Rescued victims of a recent kidnapping, including students preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), shared their distressing experiences on Sunday, describing brutal beatings, hunger, and subjection to unsanitary conditions during their four days in captivity.
The individuals were initially abducted on Wednesday along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Benue State's Otukpo Local Government Area when their Benue Links bus was attacked.
Security operatives successfully freed the victims on Sunday morning following intensive operations that put pressure on the abductors.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, upon receiving the freed individuals at the Government House in Makurdi, confirmed that eight of them were UTME candidates, with the remaining passengers being regular commuters caught in the crossfire.
The recovered passengers were identified as 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.
One of the rescued victims, 18-year-old Gbenda Daniels, who was en route to sit for his UTME, stated that the kidnappers stole his N8,000 and subjected the group to harsh physical abuse while withholding food.
"They took my N8,000. We were beaten, and we received no food; our only sustenance was dirty water," he recounted.
Another UTME candidate, 18-year-old Ngukulan Iornav, shared that they were given only garri (cassava flakes) and salt throughout their period in the forest.
"They provided garri and salt. I suffered significant beatings," she stated.
Orih Raphael Sylvester, a medical student who had just completed his final exams at the University of Maiduguri and was heading home, detailed the beginning of the ordeal. He explained that the bus left the motor park around 6 pm and reached Taraku at approximately 8:26 pm, its progress slowed by mechanical issues before the attack.
He mentioned that the abductors moved them frequently to different hidden locations within the forest to evade discovery.
"We were taken into the bush and transferred from one location to another. We had nothing to eat on the first night as we were continuously moved.
"On the second day, we subsisted on muddy water. By the third day, they gave us garri and compelled us to contact our families while physically assaulting us," he recalled.
Sylvester further disclosed that on the fourth day, the captors increased their demands for ransom, relocating the victims to another part of the forest where they were instructed to contact their relatives urgently as security forces reportedly closed in.
Sylvester noted that the victims faced random beatings, especially those whose families struggled to meet the ransom demands. A sign of hope emerged on Saturday evening when they were again urged to press their families for payment.
"We were subsequently gathered in a different spot, given our phones, and told to make further calls for our release.
"Early on Sunday, around 4 am, they ultimately provided directions to follow towards the main road, where we later encountered military personnel. It was a terrible experience. We eventually emerged near Okete," he added.
Sunday Augustine, a first-year accounting student at the Federal University of Lafia, who was returning from school, shared that he sustained an elbow injury from the severe beatings.
Similarly, Akor Jessica described the experience as profoundly traumatic, highlighting the extreme torture they endured.
"It felt like a nightmare. The suffering we endured was immense. We were on our way to write our exams. They assaulted me with large sticks and machetes freely, but by God's grace, we came through," she said.
A relative, Ochadgwuba Alexander, identified two of the victims, Emmanuel and Austin, as his cousins and confirmed they were among those abducted.
He characterized the event as deeply distressing for the entire family.
"It was a nightmare for us. The kidnappers requested N10 million for each victim," he stated.
Alexander further explained that he personally delivered a ransom of N3.4 million in cash, alongside supplies valued at approximately N33,000, including specific brands of malt drink and yoghurt, to the kidnappers in the bush.
"After handing over the ransom, I contacted the military to assist in bringing them out from where they emerged from the forest. I waited for about 40 minutes at Okete village before they were brought out," Alexander added.
Alia Urges JAMB to Reschedule Exams for Eight Victims
Governor Alia appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Sunday to permit the rescued kidnap victims who missed their examinations to take them at a later date, following their release.
Alia made this request during a joint press conference at the Government House in Makurdi, where the State Police Commissioner, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, officially handed over the remaining 13 victims of the Benue Links bus attack.
He announced that the victims would undergo medical evaluations before being reunited with their families and directed education authorities to facilitate arrangements for them to write their missed exams.
Alia reassured the populace of enhanced security measures aimed at preventing further incidents and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
He commended the police commissioner and other security agencies for their role in the successful rescue operation.
"Among the rescued individuals are eight students who were preparing for the UTME, alongside other passengers. We are committed to supporting their education and ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future," he stated.
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, while presenting the victims to the governor, informed journalists that the rescue was achieved through a coordinated security effort.
Enemari confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday in Otukpo LGA when a Benue Links bus carrying 18 passengers was targeted.
He clarified that by Friday, five victims had been rescued, while the remaining 13 were held captive until their liberation on Sunday morning as security operatives intensified their operations and cornered the abductors.
He stated that 18 passengers, including the driver, were on board when the attack happened, noting that three were left behind, and 15 were initially taken hostage.
The police commissioner elaborated that one victim later escaped, and another was rescued, leaving 13 individuals in captivity as of Friday.
"Today, all 18 passengers have regained their freedom, with the remaining 13 rescued in the early hours of this morning (Sunday).
"We have apprehended eight suspects, with substantial evidence implicating seven identified as alleged bandits involved in the attack.
"The victims have identified some of these individuals. We are collaborating closely with military intelligence in this joint operation, specifically with OPWS and the Agro Rangers of the NSCDC," the CP added.
Kidnap Victims Not UTME Candidates, JAMB Insists
In a related development, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has asserted that the individuals recently abducted in Benue State were not UTME candidates.
Fabian Benjamin, the spokesperson for JAMB, issued a statement indicating that the board's investigation revealed the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo when they were abducted.
JAMB reiterated that these claims lacked substantiation, pointing out that UTME candidates are typically assigned to various centres and do not travel in large groups.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!