The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight passengers who were abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis of Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Friday, September 18, 2026, followed several days of coordinated search and rescue efforts by police tactical teams.
The State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed the development during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Makurdi. He said the incident occurred on September 13 when armed men intercepted a commercial bus travelling along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia road at about 11pm.
According to the police commissioner, the attackers abducted all 13 passengers travelling in the vehicle.
He said police operatives immediately launched coordinated efforts to locate and rescue the victims. Four of the passengers were subsequently rescued, while nine remained in the custody of the suspected kidnappers.
Nwadiogbu said the search operation continued for several days, with operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit and other tactical teams working on intelligence gathered about the activities of the kidnapping syndicate.
He explained that the security operatives, who had been conducting search and rescue operations since Monday, September 14, eventually located the suspected kidnappers’ camp in the Ankpenchi axis of Amla Forest in Ohimini Local Government Area.
The police stormed the camp at about 6:30am on Friday, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the suspected kidnappers.
The operation resulted in the successful rescue of eight of the remaining nine victims.
However, the operation also revealed that one of the kidnapped passengers had died from injuries allegedly inflicted by the kidnappers.
According to the police, the victim sustained fatal injuries during the abduction and was later moved to another location within the forest, where he died.
The command said efforts were ongoing to recover the deceased victim’s body and apprehend members of the kidnapping syndicate who fled the area following the gun battle.
The rescued victims have been taken to safety and are receiving the necessary attention, according to the police.
The development comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of Benue State, where incidents of kidnapping and other forms of criminality have remained a major concern for residents and travellers.
The police commissioner commended the officers and tactical teams involved in the rescue operation for their courage and commitment. He also reaffirmed the command’s determination to protect lives and property, disrupt criminal activities and bring suspected perpetrators to justice.
Nwadiogbu further appealed to residents and other members of the public to provide security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist in preventing criminal activities and facilitating the arrest of suspects.
The police also urged communities, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies as efforts continue to improve security across the state.
The rescue operation represents a significant breakthrough for the command, although the death of one of the victims underscores the risks associated with kidnapping and the urgency of efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the state.
