Suspected gunmen have abducted several candidates of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State after attacking a commercial vehicle conveying them to their examination centres.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred along the Makurdi–Otukpo road on Wednesday night when the victims, mostly young students, were travelling for their exams. Police authorities confirmed the attack but initially gave limited details about the number of victims.
Further reports indicate that the victims were passengers in a Benue Links bus heading to Otukpo when the vehicle was intercepted by armed men around 7–8 p.m. The attackers reportedly forced many of the passengers into the bush.
The number of abducted persons remains unclear, with varying figures from different sources. While some accounts suggest about 17 passengers were taken, the police confirmed that at least 14 people were kidnapped, with one victim managing to escape.
Most of those abducted were said to be UTME candidates scheduled to sit for their exams the following day, raising fresh concerns about the safety of students travelling long distances for national examinations.
Security operatives have since launched a rescue operation in the area, as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the journey, including reports that the bus may have travelled at night against transport safety guidelines.
