Makurdi — Victims of a recent abduction along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Benue State have narrated chilling accounts of torture, starvation and inhumane treatment in the hands of their captors, exposing once again the deepening insecurity on Nigeria’s highways.
The victims, initially reported to be candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), were kidnapped when gunmen attacked a Benue Links commercial vehicle conveying passengers through Otukpo Local Government Area.
Speaking after their rescue, the victims described a harrowing four-day ordeal in the forest, where they were subjected to repeated beatings and deprived of basic necessities.
“We were beaten seriously. Sometimes they used sticks and threatened to kill us if our families did not pay,” one of the victims recounted.
Another victim said survival became a daily struggle, as food was either insufficient or completely unavailable.
“There were days we didn’t eat anything. We were forced to drink dirty, muddy water just to stay alive,” the victim said.
Ransom Pressure, Constant Movement
Sources revealed that the kidnappers demanded as much as ₦10 million per victim, forcing captives to contact their families under duress. Relatives were reportedly threatened, while victims faced harsher punishment whenever ransom payments were delayed.
The abductees were also moved frequently within the forest to evade security operatives, compounding their physical and psychological distress.
Security Intervention
Security forces later intensified search-and-rescue operations, leading to the victims’ release. Authorities confirmed that all passengers involved in the attack have now been accounted for, while arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Confusion Over Victims’ Identity
However, controversy has trailed the incident, as conflicting accounts emerged over the identity of the victims.
While local authorities maintained that some of those abducted were UTME candidates travelling for their examinations, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disputed the claim, stating that the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise, not examination candidates.
Rising Concerns
The incident has reignited concerns over the persistent wave of kidnappings along major highways, particularly in parts of the North-Central region, where commuters increasingly face threats from armed groups.
Security analysts warn that without sustained surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms, such attacks could further erode public confidence in road travel.
As survivors recover from their trauma, the Benue abduction adds to a growing list of violent incidents raising urgent questions about commuter safety, intelligence coordination and the broader fight against kidnapping in Nigeria.