Police Rescue Eight Kidnapped Passengers From Benue Forest, One Dies in Captivity

Police Rescue Eight Kidnapped Passengers From Benue Forest, One Dies in Captivity

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, with one other victim reported dead in captivity.

The incident occurred on the night of September 13, 2026, when armed men reportedly intercepted a commercial bus carrying 13 passengers along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia route at about 11pm.

The Benue Police Command said it immediately commenced search-and-rescue operations after receiving information about the abduction.

Four of the victims were reportedly rescued shortly after the incident, while the remaining nine were believed to have been taken deeper into the forest by their abductors.

The search operation was subsequently intensified, with tactical teams deployed to areas believed to be potential hideouts of the suspected kidnapping syndicate.

The breakthrough came in the early hours of September 18 when operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), supported by other tactical teams, moved into the Amla Forest along the Ankpenchi axis following intelligence on the location of the suspected kidnappers.

The police said the operatives encountered the suspected kidnappers in the forest, resulting in a gun battle.

During the operation, eight of the nine remaining victims were rescued from the forest.

The rescued passengers were taken to safety and placed under necessary care, while security operatives continued efforts to apprehend members of the criminal group who reportedly escaped during the encounter.

The operation, however, produced a tragic discovery.

The police said one of the abducted passengers had died while in captivity after sustaining injuries during the attack on the commercial bus.

According to the command, the rescued victims informed investigators that the passenger had suffered fatal injuries during the initial attack and later died at another location in the forest.

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Police said efforts were ongoing to recover the deceased victim’s remains.

The command also said tactical teams were continuing the search for members of the suspected kidnap gang who escaped from the forest during the operation.

The rescue means that the surviving victims of the September 13 abduction have now been freed, although the death of one passenger has added a tragic dimension to the incident.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the tactical teams involved in the operation and directed them to sustain the search for the fleeing suspects.

The command urged residents, motorists and other travellers along the route to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.

The police also appealed for credible information that could help investigators identify the suspected kidnappers, locate their hideouts and prevent further attacks in the area.

The operation comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of Benue State, where difficult forest terrain has presented challenges to security agencies conducting operations against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

In another security operation disclosed by the command, operatives of the Otukpo Area Command reportedly arrested a man identified as Sunday Ogwuche during a stop-and-search operation on September 11.

A locally fabricated pistol was allegedly recovered from him.

Police said investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding possession of the firearm and determine whether the suspect had links to other criminal activities.

The latest rescue operation highlights the role of intelligence gathering and coordinated tactical operations in locating abducted persons, particularly where suspected kidnappers use forest areas as hideouts.

While eight passengers have been rescued, police said the search for the deceased victim’s remains and the fleeing suspects remains ongoing.

The people arrested or identified in connection with the incidents remain suspects, and any allegations against them will be subject to investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution before a court.

Police Rescue Eight Kidnapped Passengers From Benue Forest, One Dies in Captivity