Thirteen passengers kidnapped from a Benue Links bus in Ohimini Local Government Area were rescued by troops of Sub-Sector 1B, Operation Whirlpool Sweep, on Sunday, April 19. The abduction occurred when gunmen attacked the bus en route from Makurdi to Otukpo, initially taking 14 of the 17 passengers. Three escaped during the attack, including eight UTME candidates among the victims. The rescued individuals, named as Hycent Oko (56), Elaiguli Joshua (25), Orili Raphael (29), Sunday Augustine (18), Emmanuel Elaicha (21), Gbile Nguyor Daniel (18), Ukacha Tersoo (18), Nyikwagh Aoridakator (22), Iornav Ngukuhan (18), Nyikwagh Benjamin (18), Buker Agatha (19), Paul Wende (29), and Akor Jessica (19), were evacuated to General Hospital, Otukpo, with various injuries. Security sources clarified the attackers were local criminal elements, not Fulani bandits as initially speculated. On April 18, troops in Plateau State responded to gunfire on Kpashio-Ansa Road, evacuating three motorcycle riders shot by gunmen; one later died. On the same day, Operation Enduring Peace troops arrested Khalid Usman in Jos North for stabbing a police inspector, and Ali Izang, found with 7.62mm ammunition near the Correctional Centre at 0615 hrs. Nine ethnic militiamen were also arrested in Riyom LGA at 0135 hrs, with bloodstains on their bodies and items including three motorcycles recovered. They were intercepted while moving toward Danwal. In international engagement, Defence Minister Christopher Musa attended a counterterrorism panel at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 in Türkiye, advocating intelligence sharing.
The same government that claims victory over local kidnappers in Benue has not explained why those responsible for the attack were not intercepted before the abduction occurred. Governor Hyancinth Alia's photo-op with the rescued UTME candidates contrasts sharply with the lack of visible security on the route they were attacked. The victims named in the report are now public, yet no details were provided on measures to protect them from possible reprisals. If local criminals operate with such ease, then the celebration of military success risks being premature.
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