Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction of passengers from a Makurdi-bound bus in Otukpo on April 15. The Benue Police Command, through spokesperson DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed the arrests were made during a joint security operation that included a search-and-rescue mission in Amla Forest and surrounding areas. Some victims were rescued and are receiving medical attention, though the exact number was not disclosed. The police clarified that misinformation circulating in some media outlets claiming the victims were students travelling for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is false. According to the command, the victims were ordinary bus passengers, not part of any organised student convoy. The suspects are in police custody as investigations continue. Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari was quoted as assuring residents that efforts to rescue the remaining victims are being intensified in collaboration with other security agencies. The public has been urged to provide credible and timely information to support ongoing operations.
The police deny the victims were UTME students even as they admit only some have been rescued, leaving unclear how many remain in captivity. If the victims were regular passengers on a commercial bus, their families have not been named or heard from. The command's focus on correcting media reports contrasts with its silence on when the rest will be found. This gap feeds public unease more than reassurance.
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