Nigeria: Students Kidnapped While Traveling to University Entrance Exams

Gunmen seized more than a dozen students on their way to take university entrance exams in northcentral Nigeria’s Benue State, according to regional authorities. The governor, Hyacinth Alia, did not reveal the exact number of victims, though local media reported 17 individuals were taken. The attack occurred along the Makurdi–Otukpo road, with the governor calling it a “cowardly act” during a statement late Thursday.

Survivors and Ongoing Search

A local trader, Mathew Mwasse, told French AFP that the abduction took place on Wednesday evening, with one passenger and the driver managing to flee. Maxwell Ogiri, chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, confirmed the victims were primarily young boys and girls heading to Otukpo. Security forces are now scouring nearby forests to locate the missing individuals.

“The victims are mainly young boys and girls traveling to Otukpo,” said Maxwell Ogiri, chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, in Jos—Plateau State’s capital—security has been intensified around exam centers following recent violent attacks that left at least 30 people dead. The region’s governor noted the surge in violence, which has escalated by 71% in 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by increased activity from armed groups. These groups, often labeled “bandits,” are described by authorities as criminal factions operating primarily in northern Nigeria, frequently targeting civilians for ransom.

Context of Violence in the Middle Belt

Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, encompassing Benue and Plateau States, has long been plagued by deadly farmer-herder conflicts and attacks by armed groups. Such incidents have disrupted daily life, including education and commerce, leaving communities unsettled. The ACLED project highlights the persistent threat, with violence in Plateau State rising sharply in 2025.

“Bandits” is a loose term used by authorities and the media to describe armed criminal groups operating mainly in northern Nigeria, often carrying out kidnappings for ransom.

Authorities have vowed to “spare no effort” in rescuing the abducted students, but residents remain frustrated, questioning the government’s response to the growing security crisis. The attack underscores the ongoing instability in the area, where tensions have escalated amid a wave of violence.