Police have rescued five passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State, with 13 others still in captivity.
The victims were among passengers attacked on Wednesday night while travelling in a Benue Links bus.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the development on Friday in Makurdi.
He said 18 passengers, including the driver, were in the vehicle at the time of the attack.
According to him, three passengers were not abducted, while two escaped, leaving 13 still held by the attackers.
Emenari said: “For now, we cannot say this is what happened because the Benue Links bus driver picked those passengers up along the road.”
He added: “The five of them that were rescued so far, none of them are JAMB candidates.”
He said: “But we suspect that one or two of them might be JAMB candidates.”
The commissioner stressed that rescue efforts remain the priority.
He said: “The most important thing now is for us to rescue the passengers, no matter who they are.
“The 13 victims are still in a danger zone.”
He assured that security operatives are intensifying operations to secure their release.
He said: “We are on top of the situation.
“Our rescue teams are in Otukpo, and we are not going to leave until the last victim is rescued.”
Emenari added: “We have put in motion everything that is needed to flush out every criminal in that bush.”
The police chief also said broader security operations have begun across the state.
He said: “Right now, we are doing clearing operations across the state, including Apa and Logo LGAs.”
He noted that the attack occurred at the start of the farming season, a period often marked by heightened security risks.
The passengers were reportedly travelling to Otukpo, with some believed to be heading for the ongoing UTME.
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