Police in Benue State have arrested seven suspects in connection with the abduction of passengers on April 15 in Otukpo, authorities have confirmed.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Makurdi. She said the arrests were made during a coordinated operation involving the police and other security agencies, alongside a targeted search-and-rescue mission in Amla Forest and surrounding areas.

According to Udeme, the operation also resulted in the rescue of an unspecified number of victims, who are currently receiving medical care. She added that intelligence gathered during the exercise led to the apprehension of the seven suspects, who remain in police custody as investigations continue.

The command also refuted reports circulating in some media outlets that the victims were part of a convoy transporting students for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Udeme clarified that the victims were passengers on a bus travelling to Makurdi and not members of any organised student convoy.

She further quoted the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, as assuring residents that efforts are being intensified, in collaboration with other security agencies, to secure the release of the remaining victims.

Udeme urged members of the public to support ongoing operations by providing timely and credible information to security agencies.