By Sabiu Abdullahi
Rescued passengers abducted along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have narrated how they suffered torture, hunger, and harsh treatment during four days in captivity before their release on Sunday, a report by Daily Trust said.
The victims were taken on Wednesday after armed men attacked a Benue Links vehicle carrying passengers. Security operatives later rescued all the victims after sustained pressure on the kidnappers.
Governor Hyacinth Alia received the rescued persons at the Government House in Makurdi. He confirmed that eight of them were candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while others were ordinary passengers.
The victims include Augustine Sunday Okechalo, Emmanuel Okechalo, Elaigwu Joshua, Hyacinth Okoh, Wende Paul, Nyikwagh Benjamin Aondokator, Iornav Ngukulan, Gbile Ngutor Daniel, Akor Jessica, Buter Agatha, Ukaha Tersoo John, Orih Raphael Sylvester, Kim Timothy, and Simon Friday.
An 18-year-old UTME candidate, Gbenda Daniels, said the abductors took his money and subjected them to beatings without food.
“They collected my N8,000. They beat us, and we didn’t eat anything; we only drank dirty water,” he said.
Another UTME candidate, 18-year-old Ngukulan Iornav, said the captors gave them very limited food during their stay.
“They gave us garri and salt. I was thoroughly beaten,” she said.
Orih Raphael Sylvester, a medical student who had completed his final examinations at the University of Maiduguri, described how the incident unfolded during the journey back to Otukpo.
He said the vehicle left the motor park around 6 pm and reached Taraku at about 8:26 pm after mechanical problems slowed it down.
He said the abductors moved the victims from one location to another inside the forest to avoid detection.
“We were taken into the bush and moved from one place to another. We didn’t eat anything on the first night because we were constantly on the move.
“On the second day, we survived on muddy water. On the third day, they gave us garri and forced us to start calling our families while beating us,” he said.
He also said the abductors increased pressure on the victims on the fourth day and demanded ransom from their families.
He said they were later gathered in one location, given phones, and forced to make further calls for payment.
“We were later brought together in another location, given our phones and instructed to make more calls for our release.
“Early Sunday, around 4am, they eventually gave us directions to follow towards the express road, where we later encountered military personnel. It was a horrible experience. We eventually came out around Okete,” he said.
Another victim, Sunday Augustine, a 100-level Accounting student of the Federal University of Lafia, said he was on his way home when the attack happened. He said he sustained an elbow injury due to beatings.
Akor Jessica described the experience as traumatic. She said the attackers used sticks and machetes on the victims.
“It was a nightmare. What we went through was too much. We were on our way to write our exams. They beat me with big sticks and machetes at will, but God saw us through,” she said.
A relative of two of the victims, Ochadgwuba Alexander, said Emmanuel and Austin were among those abducted. He said the incident caused deep distress for the family.
“It was a nightmare for us. The kidnappers demanded N10 million for each victim,” he said.
He said he delivered N3.4 million in cash along with food items worth about N33,000 to the abductors in the forest.
“After handing over the ransom, I contacted the military to help convey them from the point they emerged from the bush. I waited for about 40 minutes at Okete village before they were brought out,” he said.
Governor Alia urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to allow the rescued UTME candidates who missed their examinations to retake them.
He spoke during a press briefing in Makurdi where the State Police Commissioner, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, handed over the victims.
He said the victims would undergo medical checks before reuniting with their families. He also directed education authorities to make arrangements for the affected students.
He praised security agencies for the rescue operation and assured residents of improved security measures.
“We will support their education and ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, said the rescue followed coordinated security operations.
He said the attack happened on Wednesday when armed men stopped a Benue Links bus carrying 18 passengers.
He said five victims were first rescued, while 13 remained in captivity until Sunday when security pressure led to their release.
He said 18 passengers, including the driver, were on board. He said one person escaped and another was rescued earlier.
He said all 18 passengers eventually regained freedom. He also said eight suspects were in custody.
“We already have eight suspects in custody, with sufficient evidence against seven identified as suspected bandits who participated in the attack.
“The victims have identified some of them. We are working closely with military intelligence in this joint operation, particularly with OPWS and the Agro Rangers of the NSCDC,” he said.
However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) denied that the victims were UTME candidates.
JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said findings showed the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to Otukpo when they were abducted.
He said UTME candidates are assigned different centres and do not travel together in groups.