By Henry Yorkase, Makurdi
Eight suspected bandits have been arrested by security operatives, while all 15 passengers abducted from a Benue Links (Nig.) Limited vehicle have been successfully rescued in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The victims were abducted on Wednesday, April 15, along the Taraku–Otukpo axis in Gwer West, sparking a coordinated search-and-rescue operation by security agencies.
Last week, the General Manager of Benue Links (Nig.) Limited, Mr. Alexander Fanafa, confirmed that 15 passengers were taken by armed men, with two initially escaping and 13 held in captivity. Among those abducted were eight candidates heading to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Addressing journalists at a joint press briefing held at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, alongside the Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the rescue and arrests.
The Commissioner of Police disclosed that eight suspects, believed to be involved in the abduction, have been apprehended. He said intelligence and evidence linked several of them to the recent incident as well as other criminal activities in the state.
CP Emenari described the perpetrators as “bandit herdsmen,” adding that victims were able to identify some of the suspects. He further explained that the victims were rescued following sustained pressure and coordinated efforts by joint security operatives.
Governor Alia, while receiving the rescued victims on Sunday, directed that they be taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) for medical examination and proper care.
He also appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to arrange a special examination for the eight UTME candidates among the rescued victims. The governor assured that the state Ministry of Education would support their academic needs.
Alia commended the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, including the Civil Protection Guards and vigilante groups, for their swift response and successful rescue operation. He further directed security agencies to intensify operations and comb forests across the state to flush out criminal elements.
The governor noted that without the intervention of security operatives, the outcome could have been tragic, and urged sustained efforts to eliminate banditry and kidnapping in the state.
He also referenced similar past incidents involving the abduction of students in other parts of the country, noting that coordinated security actions had previously led to successful rescues.