All 18 passengers who were abducted from a Benue Links bus earlier in the week have now been safely rescued, bringing an end to a tense search operation carried out by security agencies in Benue State.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the development on Sunday. He made the announcement while presenting 15 of the rescued victims to Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi.
According to Emenari, the successful rescue was the result of a coordinated effort involving multiple security agencies, backed by intelligence-driven operations. He noted that all victims have been accounted for and are now out of danger.
In addition to the rescue, the police also confirmed the arrest of seven individuals believed to be connected to the abduction. The suspects are currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing to establish their roles in the incident.
The victims, many of whom endured difficult conditions while in captivity, are expected to undergo medical evaluation and receive necessary care as part of their recovery.
Governor Alia, while addressing the development, praised the efforts of the security operatives as well as community members who contributed to the success of the operation.
He also revealed a new detail that had not been previously confirmed—eight of the rescued individuals were candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). They were reportedly travelling to Otukpo when the bus was intercepted.
This revelation stands in contrast to earlier statements from both the police and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had initially indicated that no UTME candidates were among those abducted.
One of the rescued candidates shared her experience, describing the ordeal as both physically and emotionally distressing. She said that they were beaten with a machete and denied food for three days while in captivity. According to her, the abductors demanded a ransom of ₦10 million from each victim’s family.
The abduction took place last Wednesday when armed men intercepted the state-owned Benue Links bus along the Benue Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly robbed passengers before forcing several of them into the surrounding bush.
Following the incident, security operatives launched a large-scale search operation across nearby communities and forested areas. Their efforts led to the gradual rescue of some victims, while two individuals managed to escape on their own.
By Sunday morning, authorities confirmed that the remaining 13 victims had been freed, marking the conclusion of the rescue mission.
While the immediate crisis has been resolved, investigations are still ongoing as authorities work to bring all those involved to justice.
