A commercial vehicle held by the state-owned transportation business Benue Links was ambushed by gunmen who were thought to be kidnappers.

Although the precise number of victims is yet unknown, it is believed that 17 candidates who were traveling to Otukpo for their examination centers in the present Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were kidnapped.

According to information our correspondent has access to, the event happened on Wednesday, April 15, between 7 and 8 p.m. along the Benue Burnt Bricks in Otukpo, Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA), Benue State.

Sources claim that the attackers stopped the bus, stole the passengers' stuff, and then carried them off into the bush.

At around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Benue Links bus carrying roughly eighteen people collided with the kidnappers, according to an eyewitness who spoke to reporters under the condition of anonymity.

The majority of the passengers were young people traveling to Otukpo to take the JAMB exam on Thursday.

“Two people, the driver and one passenger, managed to escape. Incidentally, the passengers were mainly young men and women who travelled to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for today (Thursday),” he said.

When contacted, Mr. Alexander Fanafa, General Manager of Benue Links, verified the event and stated that the bus driver is currently being questioned at the Otukpo police station for breaking the company's safety code, which prohibits traveling after 6:00 p.m.

Source