Benue Police Arrest Seven Suspects, Clarify Kidnap Victims Were Not JAMB Candidates

The Benue State Police Command has arrested seven suspects in connection with the recent abduction of bus passengers along the Makurdi-Otukpo road, while clarifying that the victims were not JAMB candidates as initially reported.

The command announced the breakthrough in a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, following a coordinated joint security operation involving the police and other sister security agencies in the Amla Forest and adjoining areas.

Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed that the operation led to the successful rescue of some of the victims, who are currently receiving medical attention. Further intelligence gathered during the course of the operation led to the arrest of the seven suspects, who are now in police custody as investigations continue.

However, the command took the opportunity to correct what it described as misinformation circulating in some news media suggesting that the victims were part of a convoy conveying students to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The statement clarified that this claim is incorrect, as the victims were not confirmed to be part of any organised UTME-bound student convoy but were passengers in a Makurdi-bound bus.

Emenari assured the public that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, is intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining kidnap victims and ensure the full restoration of peace and security in the affected area. He urged continued cooperation from the public by providing credible and timely information to security agencies.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night when an 18-passenger Benue Links commercial bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo was ambushed by armed men. The bus driver had reportedly operated a night trip against company policy, picking up passengers along the road after official operations had closed for the day. A total of 13 passengers remain in captivity.

The Police Public Relations Officer provided official police hotlines for the public to report any suspicious activities: 08066006475 and 07067374913.