According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Saturday, April 18, 2026, one of the individuals who managed to escape from the abduction that occurred on Thursday has shared his experience, explaining how he fled from the kidnappers after they had taken the victims into a forest at about 8pm on the day of the incident.
The escapee, who identified himself simply as Francis, recounted the events that unfolded during the attack and how he eventually found his way to safety after several hours.
He stated that the bus involved in the incident was carrying a total of 18 passengers at the time it was intercepted.
According to him, the majority of those on board were students travelling to Otukpo, where they were scheduled to participate in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board.
Francis further explained that he had been returning from Makurdi, where he had gone to take part in a police recruitment screening exercise.
He described the journey as uneventful until the moment the vehicle was suddenly stopped by armed men who carried out the abduction.
He added that as soon as the attackers halted the bus, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled, leaving the passengers at the mercy of the gunmen.
The passengers were subsequently forced into the surrounding forest by the abductors under threatening conditions.
Details of his escape emerged through a video that has been widely circulated within the state, in which Francis narrated how he managed to evade the kidnappers.
He explained that he seized an opportunity to conceal himself while the group was being moved deeper into the forest.
According to his account, the abductors and other captives passed by without noticing where he had hidden, giving him the chance to make his escape.
He said he then began to run aimlessly through the bush, uncertain of his direction and unable to locate a proper road at first.
“I hid myself in that bush, and they all walked past me. That was when I came out and began to run. I didn’t see anyone, and I didn’t know where the road was, but I was just running. I got to a point, and I saw one road. I jumped on the road and continued running. From 8pm, I ran until I got to Otukpo Nobi at about 4am, then I met some Idoma people going to work that early morning,” he added…..See More
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