All 18 passengers abducted from a Benue Links bus on April 15, 2026, have been rescued, with authorities confirming their safety following a joint security operation.
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, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, resulted in the successful rescue of all the victims.
The Commissioner also confirmed the arrest of seven suspects linked to the incident, describing it as a significant breakthrough in the investigation.
He noted that the arrests were achieved through intelligence-led efforts, with the suspects currently in custody.
The rescued victims are expected to receive medical attention as investigations into the incident continue.
Governor Alia, in his remarks, commended security operatives and local communities for their role in the rescue effort.
He further disclosed that eight of the victims were candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), who were travelling to Otukpo at the time of the attack.
This revelation contrasts with earlier statements by both the police and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had indicated that none of the victims were UTME candidates.
Gunmen had intercepted the state-owned Benue Links bus last Wednesday along the Benue Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo, Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA), robbing passengers before taking several of them into the bush.
Security operatives later launched coordinated search operations in surrounding areas, leading to the rescue of some victims, while two others escaped from captivity.
On Sunday morning, police confirmed that the remaining 13 victims had been freed, completing the rescue mission.