Police rescue five kidnap victims as gunmen abduct 17 passengers in Benue

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a kidnapping incident involving a commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of August 13, 2026.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, gave this confirmation in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Friday.

Our correspondent gathered that an 18-seater bus was attacked and 17 passengers evacuated into the bush along the route, leaving behind a breastfeeding mother and her five months old baby.

The Police said: “Following the incident, operatives of the Command commenced a coordinated rescue operation early this morning.”

The operation, the PPRO, which involved an exchange of gunfire, has so far resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy, while nine others remain in the custody of the suspected kidnappers.

The statement read: “One of the five rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the rescue operation and was immediately rushed to a medical facility in Otukpo, where he is currently receiving medical attention.”

He said operatives of the command, in collaboration with sister security agencies, are intensifying efforts to safely rescue the remaining nine victims.

According to him, the operation is being conducted with utmost caution, with the lives and safety of the victims as the primary objective.

The Commissioner of Police acknowledged the concerns of the families of the affected persons and the general public and assured that concerted efforts are being made to secure the safe rescue of those still in captivity.

Members of the public, particularly residents within and around the affected communities, are urged to remain calm and vigilant, and to promptly provide the police with credible information that could assist the ongoing operation and help prevent similar incidents in the future.