JUST IN: Police confirm rescue of remaining 13 abducted travellers in Benue

Security operatives have recovered the remaining 13 passengers abducted from a Benue Links transport vehicle earlier in the week, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 18.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the development early Sunday in a brief message, adding that arrangements were underway to move the rescued passengers to Makurdi.

“We’re planning a news conference this morning when they arrive Makurdi,” he stated.

The victims were taken on Wednesday night when armed men intercepted the state-owned bus along its route. Several of those abducted were young men and women travelling to Otukpo to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Police had earlier confirmed on Friday that five passengers had been freed, while 13 remained in captivity until the latest rescue operation.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had issued a statement on Saturday denying that any of its candidates were affected by the incident. However, relatives of some passengers disputed that position, insisting that a significant number of those on board were UTME candidates travelling for their examinations scheduled the following day.

One family member, who asked not to be named, said the claim by JAMB did not reflect what families on the ground were experiencing.

“My nephew was on that bus, and he was going for his JAMB exam in Otukpo. Most of the passengers were candidates. They travelled that evening because their exams were the next morning,” the source said.