Eight of the rescued passengers were candidates preparing for UTME
The Nigerian Army troops under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued 13 kidnapped passengers of a Benue Links commercial bus abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road on April 15, 2026.
This is contained in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
The report said the troops, while conducting search-and-rescue operations, recovered the victims in the early hours of Sunday from a forest area in Okete Ward, Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue.
According to the report, those rescued include Hycent Oko (56), Elaiguli Joshua (25), Orili Raphael (29), Sunday Augustine (18), Emmanuel Elaicha (21), Gbile Nguyor Daniel (18), Ukacha Tersoo (18), and Nyikwagh Aoridakator (22).
Others are Iornav Ngukuhan (18), Nyikwagh Benjamin (18), Buker Agatha (19), Paul Wende (29), and Akor Jessica (19).
It added that the rescued victims were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Otukpo, where they are currently receiving medical attention, including treatment for injuries sustained during captivity.
The report further disclosed that three of the 17 abducted passengers had earlier escaped and safely reunited with their families, while efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims still in captivity.
It added that eight of the abducted passengers were candidates preparing for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
(NAN)
