Abducted Students Survive on Garri and Salt in Four-Day Benue Kidnap Ordeal

Fourteen passengers seized on the Taraku–Otukpo road in Benue State say they endured beatings, muddy water, and nothing but garri mixed with salt during four days in captivity. The victims, including young people believed to be exam and recruitment candidates, were freed early Sunday after coordinated operations by police, military intelligence, NSCDC Agro Rangers and Operation Whirl Stroke. The state governor pledged medical care and urged exam authorities to reschedule any missed tests. One 18-year-old recalled being robbed of ₦8,000 and forced to call his family while captors intensified ransom demands. A relative paid ₦3.4 million before the hostages were released and handed over to security agents. Authorities have arrested eight suspects as investigations continue. JAMB has since disputed claims that the abductees were Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidates, saying they were returning from a police recruitment event.

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