Benue: Police rescue kidnapped travellers after gun battle with abductors
The Benue State Police Command successfully rescued eight passengers kidnapped by armed men along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia route in Ohimini Local Government Area, according to state officials.
Cletus Nwadiogbu, the State Commissioner of Police, made the announcement during a press briefing on Friday at the command headquarters in Makurdi. He stated that a total of 13 passengers were abducted while traveling on a commercial bus from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State to Abuja during the attack.
Nwadiogbu reported that four passengers were rescued shortly after the incident, while the remaining nine were taken deeper into the forest. The abduction occurred around 11 p.m. on Sunday, prompting police to launch ongoing search and rescue operations.
Responding to the incident, teams from the Violent Crime Response Unit and other tactical units began searching the area on September 14. The operation was bolstered by credible intelligence that led officers to a suspected kidnappers’ camp in the Amla forest area of Otukpo.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Friday, the police team raided the camp, resulting in a gunfire exchange with the suspects. Nwadiogbu confirmed that eight of the abducted victims were recovered during the operation. However, he noted that the ninth victim had died from gunshot wounds received during the initial attack.
This victim had reportedly been kept alive by the kidnappers while they moved him within the forest in an effort to negotiate a ransom. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries before police could reach him.
The commissioner described the situation as “painful and unfortunate,” emphasizing that police forces remained in the forest area to recover the victim’s remains and continue efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Nwadiogbu also urged travelers to avoid night travel, especially along routes prone to attacks, recommending that those on long-distance journeys stop in nearby towns for the night and resume travel during daylight.
He reassured the community that the police command is enhancing intelligence efforts and tactical operations aimed at identifying and arresting members of the kidnapping syndicate. The recent rescue operation marks the second significant incident involving travelers kidnapped along the same route in recent weeks.
