Twelve passengers who were kidnapped while travelling in a Benue Links commercial bus have regained their freedom after spending seven days in captivity.
The victims were released around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and were received at the Okpokwu Divisional Police Station in Benue State. According to sources, two of the passengers required urgent medical attention and were immediately taken to a hospital.
The passengers had been abducted on June 22, 2025, while travelling along the Eke axis of Okpokwu Local Government Area.
Their bus, owned by the Benue State Government and bearing registration number 14B-143BN, was reportedly hijacked at about 6:30 p.m. Eyewitnesses said the passengers were robbed before being taken to an undisclosed location.
Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of Benue Links Transport Company, Ehi Johnson, said the passengers were released on Sunday afternoon and are now in police custody at Ugbokolo in Okpokwu LGA.
Johnson could not confirm whether the victims were rescued by security operatives or if any ransom was paid. “Details are still sketchy, but more information will be provided to the public soon,” he said.
He had earlier confirmed that the attacked bus was en route to Makurdi from Abeokuta, Ogun State, when it was intercepted.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, told our correspondent that she had not yet received an official report on the release of the victims.
