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•Alia reads riot act to criminals, wants exams rescheduled
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The 15 passengers kidnapped in an 18-seater Benue Links bus last Wednesday, April 15, 2026, have been rescued.
Out of the 18 passengers en route to Otukpo, 15 were kidnapped at Taraku, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road, by gunmen and taken into the bush.
Eight out of the 15 victims were confirmed to be Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination candidates heading to Otukpo, Benue South Senatorial District, to sit for their examination the following morning.
The names of the JAMB candidates are: Jessica Akor; Daniel Gbile; Ngukulan Iornav; Benjamin Nyikwagh; Paul Wende; Anodokator Nyikwagh; John Ukaha; and Agatha Buter.
Other victims who were also rescued were Augustine Okechalo, Emmanuel Okechalo, Joshua Elaigwu, Hyacinth Okoh, Sylvester Orih, Timothy Kim, and Simon Friday.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, while handing over the rescued victims to the governor at Government House, Makurdi, said the victims were abducted and taken into the Amla Forest.
Emenari, who recalled receiving marching orders from the IGP and the state governor for their rescue, said: “To the glory of God, today all the 18 passengers in the Benue Links bus are free. The last 13 of the passengers were rescued early this morning. I want to thank all the security stakeholders that participated in the operation.”
He appreciated the chairman of the local government and all sister security agencies for their roles in the rescue exercise, saying it was a collaborative joint effort supported and monitored by the state government.
He said the police have in their custody eight suspects, seven of whom are suspected to be linked with the recent kidnapping incident and previous ones.
He said: “One or two of the victims have already identified some of them as having participated in the operation. We are widening our scope of investigation, working hand-in-hand with other security agencies and the community.”
The commissioner stated that the command would not tolerate kidnapping, banditry, or any undesirable elements inhabiting farmlands or forests and using them as bases to commit nefarious activities.
“We are still on with our operations, and we can assure you that we are on top of the situation. Our routes must be free, and we are achieving this by the grace of God.”
Responding, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who was visibly elated, appreciated the CP and other security agencies for their efforts and determination in rescuing “these fine young people and travellers who were kidnapped between Taraku in Gwer East and Otukpo on April 15.”
He said: “Since then, all the security heads have not rested. None of us has experienced peace.”
He noted that that axis of the state has been in the news for the wrong reasons, recalling that: “Just a few months ago, there was a rescue of 20 medical students who were coming from Gwer East, travelling to the East. Again, 17 victims were also rescued as citizens from Oju on their way to the South-West of the country. Not too long ago, nine parishioners in Oju were also rescued, with another 13 rescued in Katsina-Ala Local Government.”
He credited the rescues to the hard work and determination of security officers and the joint task force, alongside the efforts of various communities, reiterating his determination to curb insecurity in the state.
He again called on all security heads in the state to stay on guard to ensure they curb insecurity and flush out all hideouts of criminals in the state.
Alia stated: “Among the members that were kidnapped on the 15th day, we have eight young people who were travelling to prepare for their future—students who were going to write their examinations. Seven people were regular passengers. So, in all, 18 people were in this vehicle. Fifteen of them were kidnapped. One escaped the same evening, while another escaped the following morning.
“We thank God that today all the remaining 13 have been rescued by uniformed men, the task force, and cooperating host communities. We remain grateful to God. I am also very pleased to hear that seven suspects are already in police custody and have been identified as bandits and hitmen who were fully armed.
“Benue has been a place of peace. We cannot tolerate or accommodate anything that is outside peace. I urge the authorities to comb properly and ensure all accomplices are brought to justice.
“This will go a long way in ensuring that every kidnapper, bandit, and criminal understands that the state is not prepared to accommodate them.”
Governor Alia called on JAMB authorities to look deeply into the case of the eight students and reschedule their examinations, assuring that the government is willing to support them.
He assured the students of support and medical care to enable them recover and return to normal life.
Alia also sympathised with the families of the victims for their patience, resilience, cooperation, and support to security operatives in ensuring the safe return of their loved ones.
Some of the students and their family members appreciated God, the state government, and security agencies for their efforts and the safe return of their children.
In a quick reaction, JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, clarified that the individuals abducted were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to Otukpo when the incident occurred.
However, the Benue state police command equally said that the passengers were not unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) candidates.
Benue state police public relations officer Udeme Edet, said in a statement that reports describing the victims as UTME candidates were “misinformation and incorrect.”
