By Our Correspondent

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, has narrated how a coordinated security operation led to the rescue of eight kidnapped Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) candidates and seven other travellers who were abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.

The abductees were rescued early hours of Sunday after spending four days in captivity.

Our correspondent reports that the victims were among passengers of a Benue Links bus that was attacked by gunmen on April 15, 2026, around the Taraku axis in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Speaking during the presentation of the rescued victims to the state government, the police commissioner said, “The incident happened on the 15th of April. The bus was carrying 18 passengers when the attackers struck and abducted some of them into the forest,”

Emenari added that,
“The executive governor directed that the victims must be rescued. At the same time, we were instructed to ensure that the operation was carried out professionally and without endangering the lives of the victims.

“To the glory of God today, all the passengers in that Benue Links bus are free. The last batch of 13 victims were rescued early this morning after sustained pressure on the criminals operating around the Amla forest,” he said.

Emenari commended security agencies and community actors who participated in the rescue mission, describing the operation as a demonstration of effective collaboration.

He specifically acknowledged the roles played by the Nigerian Army’s 401 Brigade, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services, the state’s Civil Protection Guards, Homeland Security and local vigilantes from Naka and surrounding communities.

According to him, the state government closely monitored the operation and provided the necessary support throughout the rescue effort.

“Since the incident occurred, the governor kept in constant communication, giving instructions and ensuring that the operation succeeded. His leadership has greatly encouraged security personnel in the state.”

The police boss also revealed that several suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack.

“As of now, we have eight suspects in police custody and seven of them are strongly linked to the kidnapping incidents, including this one”

He noted that some of the rescued victims had already identified certain suspects as members of the gang that carried out the attack.

He added that the police, working with other security agencies, had intensified investigations while special tactical units had been deployed to the state to strengthen ongoing operations.

“We know that this axis presents security challenges. The directive now is to clear all bandit elements in and around the Amla forest. A comprehensive joint clearance operation is underway,” he said.

Emenari further stated that security personnel were currently conducting operations in several parts of the state including Sankera axis; Kwande, and Guma local government areas.

“We are entering the farming season, and we will not tolerate banditry, kidnapping or any criminal elements hiding in forests or farmlands to terrorize communities,” he added.

Responding, Governor Hyacinth Alia commended the police commissioner and other security agencies for their determination in securing the victims’ release.

The governor said the government and security chiefs had remained under pressure since the abduction occurred.

“Since the 15th of this month when these young people and other travellers were kidnapped along the Makurdi–Otukpo road, none of the security heads in the state has rested,” he said.

Alia, who said the victims included eight young students who were travelling to sit for their JAMB examination, disclosed that out of the 18 passengers in the bus, 15 were abducted during the attack while two managed to escape earlier before the final rescue operation.

The governor expressed gratitude to security agencies, local communities and the federal government for their support in the rescue efforts.

“I am very grateful to hear that several suspects have been identified as bandits and are currently in custody. Authorities must ensure that all accomplices are apprehended,” he said.

Alia reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity in the state and warned that Benue would not tolerate criminal elements.

“Benue has always been a land of peace and we cannot accommodate anyone who comes to destroy that peace,” he stated.

The governor directed that the rescued victims be taken to hospital for medical examination and care.

He also appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to consider rescheduling the examination for the eight students who missed it due to the kidnapping ordeal.

“I call on JAMB authorities to look into the case of these eight students and give them another opportunity to write their examination,” he said.

Alia assured the students and their families that the state government would support them in continuing their education.

In addition, he urged communities across the state to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information to help curb kidnapping and other crimes.

Meanwhile, the released victims have expressed deep appreciation to God and the federal and state government as well as security agencies for their rescue urging them to provide adequate security for citizens to enable them go about their legitimate businesses without fear.

By Our Reporter

Retired Brigadier General Kukasheka Usman has revealed that the approximately 700 repentant Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the Nigerian military can no longer be reintegrated into the terrorist group, as the insurgents would view them with deep suspicion and likely kill them on sight.

Speaking in an interview with the press, Usman said, “Many people may not even be aware that all those people who have gone through the rehabilitation process are already persona non grata. Boko Haram terrorists will no longer accept the repentant fighters. They are natural suspects in the sense that they might be suspected of having ingrained devices on their bodies or being there to spy on them, and they would be killed instantly. So I think the most important thing is to continue to sensitise Nigerian society and other stakeholders to get their buy-in.”

He also addressed the legal foundation behind the military’s decision to accept the surrendering fighters in the first place, pointing out that international humanitarian law places a clear obligation on any government to render assistance to those who lay down their arms.

He noted that the fighters who surrendered voluntarily were not carrying weapons at the time, and were each thoroughly investigated, profiled, and assessed to determine the extent of their involvement in the northeast insurgency before any rehabilitation process began.

By Wumi Tewogbade ,Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing, at weekend said it has concluded arrangements to commence indefinite strike over non implementation of the N70, 000 Minimum Wage and the payment of nine months’ arrears to the primary school teachers in the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

In a communique issued by NUT FCT wing and signed by State Chairman, Com. Abdullah Shafa, State Secretary, Com. Margaret Jethro and State Publicity Secretary, Com. Ibukun Adekeye, after the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting in Abuja.

They commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike for his intervention on 11th March 2026, which expired on 19th March, 2026.

But they lamented that the Minister’s intervention, which facilitated the suspension of the fourteen-week strike by the primary school teachers on 9th July, 2025, is yet to be addressed.

They acknowledged that the Minister, in order to resolve the issue constituted a committee on the 7th July 2025 with a mandate to, within two weeks, harmonize all outstanding entitlements of Primary School Teachers and make appropriate recommendations that would lead to a permanent solution to the frequent industrial disputes involving FCT Primary School Teachers. committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, however, the report is yet to be made public.

According to the communique, the FCT teachers lamented that they don’t know the reason for the unexplained delay in the implementation of the committee’s report and the continued silence on the legitimate demands of teachers amid the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country, particularly in the FCT.

It would be recalled that SWEC, at its session on 11th March 2026, issued a seven day ultimatum within which to:
“Release and implement the report of Primary School teachers’ outstanding entitlements, Remove the “Vacancies” precondition for the promotion of classroom teachers and totally review the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow for the unhindered promotion of eligible teachers”.

The teachers are concerned that following the expiration of the Seven-day ultimatum on 19th March 2026, including the additional twenty eight day grace period granted to the authorities to enable them to intensify efforts towards meeting the demands of teachers as requested, there has been no tangible response from the authorities to all the industrial issues raised in our ultimatum.

“After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues that necessitated the seven-day ultimatum, and considering that the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers’ welfare and a threat to the stability of education in the territory, the meeting resolved that all Public Primary and Secondary School Teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, 20th April 2026, proceed on an indefinite Strike until the demands of the Union are met.

“The Union hereby directs all Public Primary and Secondary School Teachers in the FCT to comply with this directive and await further instructions from the Union”, the communique noted.

They therefore advised Parents to keep their children and wards in Primary and Secondary Schools safe at home until further notice.