All 18 passengers abducted from a Benue Links bus on April 15, 2026, have been rescued following a coordinated 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 joint operation involving multiple security agencies led to the successful recovery of all the victims. He also announced the arrest of seven suspects linked to the abduction, describing the development as a breakthrough achieved through intelligence-led efforts. The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue.
The rescued passengers are expected to receive medical attention following their ordeal.
Governor Alia commended security operatives and local communities for their roles in securing the victims’ release. He further revealed that eight of those abducted were candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), travelling to Otukpo at the time of the attack.
The revelation contradicts earlier statements by the police and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which had indicated that no UTME candidates were among the victims.
One of the candidates, who recounted her experience, said they were beaten with machetes and left without food for three days while in captivity. She added that the abductors demanded a ransom of N10 million from each victim’s family.
The incident occurred when gunmen 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. Security operatives launched a search operation shortly after, leading to the rescue of some victims and the escape of two others.
Police confirmed on Sunday morning that the remaining 13 victims had been freed, bringing the total number of rescued passengers to 18 and concluding the operation.
