ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Armed attackers ambushed a passenger bus in Nigeria’s Benue state Thursday, kidnapping students who were traveling to take university examinations, according to state officials.
The kidnapping occurred on the Otukpo-Makurdi highway, where students and other bus passengers were taken captive, Governor Hyacinth Alia announced in a Thursday evening statement.
While the governor did not reveal the exact number of people kidnapped, local news outlets reported that 14 passengers were aboard the bus during the attack.
“The targeting of innocent citizens, particularly students on their way to sit for examinations, is unacceptable and stands against every norm of humanity and civil order,” Alia said.
According to the governor, authorities have launched search and rescue missions throughout the north-central state to secure the safe release of all kidnapped individuals.
So far, no organization has taken credit for Thursday’s kidnapping incident. The Benue region has become a center for armed attacks in Nigeria’s northern areas, where criminal groups frequently assault isolated communities and highway travelers through deadly raids and abductions for money.
Kidnapping of students has become a hallmark of the security crisis plaguing Africa’s largest nation by population, with experts noting that criminal organizations view educational institutions and students as “strategic” victims to generate maximum public attention.
The governor called on local residents to stay composed and continue working with law enforcement during rescue missions and other security activities.
“We will continue to take decisive actions to protect lives and property,” he added.
