The Benue State Police Command has pushed back against swirling narratives over last week’s abduction of passengers along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway, insisting that victims themselves have identified suspected herdsmen as those behind the crime.
Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed this while presenting the rescued victims to Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi, stressing that preliminary investigations and eyewitness accounts point to militia herdsmen operating as bandits in the area.
The victims, who included candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) travelling to Otukpo for their examinations, were all rescued unhurt after a multi-agency security operation mounted intense pressure on the kidnappers.
According to Emenari, the rescue unfolded in phases, beginning with the release of five passengers, followed by the recovery of the remaining 13 on Sunday morning.
“With the earlier release of five occupants of the vehicle, the remaining 13 were rescued this Sunday morning unhurt,” the police chief said.
He emphasized that the breakthrough came after the deployment of tactical teams ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, which forced the suspects to abandon their captives.
More crucially, Emenari revealed that the testimony of the victims has become central to the police narrative.
“We already have eight suspects in custody, and out of this number, seven are suspected herdsmen bandits connected with the crime. Some of the victims have been able to identify them,” he stated.
The police position is likely to deepen ongoing national conversations around insecurity in Benue and the long-running tensions involving armed herdsmen groups in the region.
Authorities also confirmed that clearance operations have been intensified across forest corridors believed to be hideouts for criminal gangs, in line with directives from the police high command and the state government.
Reacting, Governor Alia expressed relief over the safe return of all 18 passengers but acknowledged growing concerns over repeated kidnapping incidents in the state.
“Among the victims are eight young people who were heading to Otukpo to write their examinations. On the whole, 18 persons were kidnapped, and I am happy to hear that they have all returned safely. I am also pleased that seven suspected herdsmen bandits have been arrested over the incident,” the governor said.
He urged the examination body to consider rescheduling the missed papers for the affected candidates and directed health authorities to conduct medical checks on the rescued victims.
The governor also renewed his call for residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence, pledging that his administration would sustain a hardline stance against criminal elements while rolling out support for those affected by the attack.
With arrests made and victims pointing fingers, the police say the case is moving into a decisive phase — one they insist is grounded not just in intelligence, but in the voices of those who survived the ordeal.
