All 18 passengers abducted from a Benue Links bus on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, have been rescued following a joint security operation, authorities have confirmed.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed this on Sunday while presenting 15 of the rescued victims to Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi.
Emenari said the operation, carried out in collaboration with other security agencies, led to the successful rescue of all the victims.
He also announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the incident, describing the development as a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
According to him, the arrests were made through intelligence-led operations, and the suspects are currently in custody.
The rescued victims are expected to undergo medical evaluation as investigations continue.
Governor Alia, in his remarks, commended security operatives and local communities for their role in ensuring the safe return of the passengers.
He further revealed that eight of the victims were candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), who were travelling to Otukpo when the attack occurred.
This disclosure contrasts earlier statements by both the police and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had initially indicated that no UTME candidates were among those abducted.
Narrating her ordeal, one of the rescued candidates said they were subjected to harsh treatment during captivity.
“They beat us with machetes and starved us for three days,” she said, adding that the abductors demanded N10 million ransom from each victim’s family.
Gunmen had intercepted the state-owned bus along the Benue Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo Local Government Area, robbing passengers before taking several of them into the bush.
Following the attack, security forces launched coordinated search operations across nearby communities, leading to the rescue of some victims, while two others managed to escape.
On Sunday morning, the police confirmed that the remaining 13 victims had been freed, bringing the rescue effort to a successful conclusion.
