Benue: Police arrest seven over Otukpo abduction, rescue some victims

The Police Command in Benue has arrested seven suspects over alleged connection with the April 15 abduction of some passengers in Otukpo.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed the development in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi on Saturday.

Udeme said that the arrests were made during a coordinated joint security operation involving the police and other security agencies and a targeted search-and-rescue mission in Amla Forest and adjoining areas.

She said that the operation also led to the rescue of some of the victims, who are currently receiving medical attention, but did not disclose the number of those rescued.

“Further intelligence gathered in the course of the operation led to the arrest of seven suspects, who are currently in police custody while the investigation is ongoing.

“The Command also wishes to clarify misinformation circulating in some news media suggesting that the victims were part of a convoy conveying students to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

“The command states that this claim is incorrect, as the victims were not confirmed to be part of any organised UTME-bound student convoy but passengers in a Makurdi-bound bus,” she said.

Udeme quoted the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, as assuring residents that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, is intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining victims.

She further urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely information to aid ongoing operations.