Breaking: 13 kidnapped passengers rescued in Benue

Relief efforts poured into Benue state on Sunday morning as all 13 passengers abducted along the troubled Makurdi-Otukpo highway were freed.

The victims, who were abducted by gunmen near the burnt brick factory in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA), have been in captivity for four days, Blueprint.ng reports.

While details of the rescue remain unclear, sources suggest it was the result of a “coordinated effort” by security forces.

At the time of this report, neither the police nor the government had confirmed whether ransom payments were involved or whether the suspects had been arrested.

The physical condition of the passengers was also not officially disclosed, but they are believed to be undergoing medical checks.

The kidnapping had heightened fears among commuters who rely on the Makurdi-Otukpo route, a route increasingly plagued by security breaches and kidnappings.

Residents in the state have lauded the rescue as a “significant breakthrough” as they urge the government to strengthen security within the state, especially on roads within the Benue South area.

“We are relieved beyond words, but the frequency of these accidents cannot be ignored. The safety of our roads is critical to the survival of this region,” said community leader Adamu Oko.

Initially, reports went viral that the abducted victims were JAMB candidates heading to take part in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), but officials on Saturday revealed that they were candidates for the police recruitment exercise.

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