Police Rescue Eight kidnapped Benue Passengers

The Benue State Police Command on Friday rescued eight passengers who were abducted along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu made the disclosure during a press conference at the state police headquarters in Makurdi.

According to him, suspected kidnappers intercepted a commercial bus at about 11pm on September 13 along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia route and abducted all 13 passengers on board.

Nwadiogbu said the eight rescued victims were safe and receiving necessary medical attention.

Efforts were continuing to apprehend the fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate and recover the body of one victim who died.

“In the early hours of September 18, 2026, at about 0630 hours, operatives of the Command attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit, alongside other tactical teams, who have since Monday been engaged in search and rescue operations, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the camp of the suspected kidnapping syndicate at the Ankpenchi axis of Amla Forest, Ohimini LGA.

“The operation resulted in an exchange of gunfire with the kidnappers, during which eight of the remaining victims were successfully rescued.

“Unfortunately, it was gathered from the victims that one of them, who sustained fatal injuries from the kidnappers during the attack, died in another area of the forest,” he said.