Five abducted Benue passengers freed, 13 still held

The Benue State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the rescue of five passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road, while 13 others remain in captivity.

Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed this on Friday during a briefing with journalists in Makurdi. The victims were among those attacked on Wednesday night while travelling in a Benue Links bus.

Emenari explained that a total of 18 passengers, including the driver, were in the vehicle at the time of the attack. He said three passengers were not taken by the abductors, while two managed to escape, leaving 13 still in the hands of the kidnappers.

Clarifying earlier reports, the police commissioner noted that the rescued individuals were not confirmed to be candidates of the ongoing UTME conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

“For now, we cannot conclusively say who among them are exam candidates because the driver picked passengers along the way. From our findings so far, none of those rescued has been identified as a UTME candidate, although we cannot rule out the possibility that one or two of those still in captivity may be,” he said.

He stressed that the priority of the police remains the safe rescue of all victims, regardless of their identity.

“The 13 victims are still in a dangerous situation, but we are fully on top of the operation. Our rescue teams are actively working in Otukpo, and we will not relent until every single victim is freed,” Emenari assured.

He added that security operatives have launched coordinated operations to track down the abductors and dismantle criminal hideouts in the area.

According to him, clearance operations are ongoing across parts of the state, including Apa and Logo Local Government Areas, especially as the farming season begins—a period often marked by increased security concerns.

The abducted passengers were reportedly heading towards Otukpo, with some believed to be travelling for the ongoing UTME examinations. Earlier police reports had indicated that 14 passengers were taken during the incident.