Three victims who escaped from the captors of Benue Links passengers have narrated their ordeals.
The victims—two males and a female—were among 18 passengers abducted when they were traveling along the dilapidated Naka-Makurdi Road.

Speaking with journalists, a female victim, simply identified as Blessing, said the incident happened at about 3 p.m. on Thursday (five days ago).
She said, “The kidnappers stopped the vehicle. We had passed the soldier's spot and then got to their own spot. We thought they were soldiers, but we did not know that they were armed men. They were wearing army uniforms and welding guns. They shot into the air and are still holding some people inside the bush. They were up to 15 in number. I escaped in the night. I slept in the bush that night.
“On Sunday, I came out, went to the park, and arrived here in the evening. I was coming from Otukpo to Makurdi en route to Abuja. They made us walk for over 40 minutes and kept changing locations. They spoke in English, their local dialect, and Hausa. They were not masked. It was around midnight that I sneaked out of the line and escaped.”
Another victim, who didn’t disclose his name, added, “Before now, people thought these kidnappings were propaganda by former Governor Samuel Ortom. I must say he is my hero. This was what he tried to avoid. I think the present government should continue from where he stopped.