Gunmen kidnap 14 passengers in Benue, five rescued

Gunmen have kidnapped 14 passengers on the Otukpo, Adoka road in Benue State. Police say five of the victims have been rescued so far.

The incident happened on Thursday night. An 18-seater bus was traveling from Enugu State to Abuja when it was ambushed along the Ankpechi, Omutele route in Ohimini Local Government Area.

A local resident, Ochai, spoke with our reporter on Friday. He said the gunmen took all the passengers into the nearby forest.

Ochai said, “Some gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Abuja between Omutele and Ankpechi along Otukpo, Adola road yesterday (Thursday) night. All the passengers in the vehicle were whisked away by the gunmen.”

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed the incident. He released a statement to journalists in Makurdi. He said the police started a rescue operation early Friday morning.

Aondongu noted that the operation included gunfire exchanges between the security forces and the kidnappers. He said, “The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a kidnapping incident involving a commercial passenger bus traveling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi, Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of 13 August 2026.

“Following the incident, operatives of the command commenced a coordinated rescue operation early this (Friday) morning. The operation, 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.”

Aondongu also said that one of the rescued victims was injured in the operation. That person was taken to a hospital in Otukpo for treatment. He added that police, alongside other security agencies, are working hard to free the remaining nine victims.

According to Aondongu, the operation is being conducted carefully. The safety of the abducted passengers is the top priority.

Cletus Nwadiogbu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, assured the victims’ families and the public that they will keep trying until all passengers are freed. He urged people in the affected areas to stay alert and share any helpful information with security agencies.

This incident raises worries about insecurity in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas. Residents have reported several killings and kidnappings in recent weeks.