The Benue State Police Command says it has arrested seven suspected militia herdsmen in connection with the abduction of passengers travelling in an 18-seater Benue Links bus along the Makurdi-Otukpo highway, while all the victims have now regained their freedom. The police said the rescue followed a joint security operation involving multiple agencies, local communities and tactical support deployed to intensify pressure on the kidnappers.
Briefing Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi, Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari said five of the passengers were earlier released, while the remaining 13 were rescued on Sunday morning. He added that eight suspects were in custody, including seven believed to be directly linked to the crime, and said some of the victims had identified the suspects.
Governor Alia said the passengers included eight candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination who were travelling to Otukpo at the time of the attack. He welcomed the safe return of all 18 passengers and urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to consider rescheduling the examination for the affected candidates.
The case has drawn added attention because of confusion over the identities of the victims. Earlier reports, including previous statements attributed to police and JAMB, said those abducted were not UTME candidates. But Channels Television and Vanguard later reported Governor Alia confirming that eight of the rescued passengers were indeed examination candidates, a clarification that shifted the narrative around the incident.
The abduction itself was first reported last week after gunmen attacked the Benue Links bus and took passengers away from the highway into the bush, prompting widespread concern in the state and nationally. Associated Press reported at the time that the governor condemned the targeting of citizens, especially students heading for examinations, and said search-and-rescue efforts had been launched immediately.
Emenari said the breakthrough followed the deployment of the Inspector-General of Police’s tactical team and an expanded security operation to flush out criminal groups from forest hideouts across the state. He credited the support of Governor Alia and the police high command for helping force the kidnappers to release the victims.
Receiving the rescued passengers, Alia expressed concern over the growing wave of kidnappings in parts of Benue but said his administration would continue backing security agencies. He also directed the state’s health authorities to ensure the victims receive medical attention and promised government support for them as they recover from the ordeal.
