After one week in captivity, the remaining 10 passengers, who were abducted from a Benue Links 14-seaster commercial bus at Eke-Elengbecho community in Okpokwu local government area of Benue State, have regained their freedom.
The bus was said to be coming from Abeokuta in Ogun State to Makurdi, Benue State last Sunday, June 22, when the armed men attacked the vehicle at about 6:30pm, kidnapping all the passengers alongside the driver.
Confirming the release of the abducted passengers, the Information Officer of the transport company, Johnson Ehi, in a statement, commended security personnel and all other persons who facilitated the release of the passengers, saying it was a relief for Benue Links to confirm the safe release of the passengers.
According to him, “the passengers were initially 12 at the point of abduction, and two were earlier rescued, while the remaining 10 were held against their will by unidentified individuals, however we thank God they have now regained their freedom.
“We are deeply grateful that they have returned safely and are in stable condition. They are now undergoing appropriate medical evaluations and counselling to support their well-being after this distressing ordeal.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the relevant security agencies, community leaders, and all those who played a critical role in facilitating the release of the passengers. Their coordinated efforts and dedicated commitment to the safety of the citizens have been invaluable during this challenging time.
“Benue Links Nigeria Limited remains steadfast in our commitment to the safety and security of all our passengers and staff. He added
“We will continue to collaborate closely with law enforcement authorities to ensure that justice is served and to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Enhanced security measures are also being implemented across all our routes to further safeguard our operations.”
Efforts to get confirmation from the Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, did not yield any result as her telephone number was not connecting.
