The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight passengers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Makurdi.
According to him, the eight victims were part of 13 passengers kidnapped when armed men attacked a commercial bus travelling from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to Abuja.
He explained that four of the passengers were rescued shortly after the incident, while the remaining nine were taken deeper into the forest by the kidnappers.
Nwadiogbu said the attack occurred at about 11pm on Sunday along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia route, prompting the command to launch sustained search and rescue operations.
He said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit and other tactical teams had been combing the area since September 14 after the abduction.
The police boss disclosed that the breakthrough came after the operatives received credible intelligence which led them to a suspected kidnappers’ hideout around the Ankpenchi axis of Amla forest in Otukpo.
He said the police team stormed the camp at about 6:30am on Friday, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire with the suspected criminals.
“The operation resulted in an exchange of gunfire with the kidnappers, during which eight of the remaining victims were successfully rescued,” he said.
Nwadiogbu, however, revealed that the ninth hostage died from gunshot injuries sustained during the initial attack.
He said the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was allegedly kept alive by the kidnappers while they moved him between different locations in the forest in an attempt to secure ransom.
The commissioner said the victim eventually died from his injuries before the police could rescue him.
He described the development as painful and unfortunate, adding that operatives remained in the forest in an effort to recover the victim’s remains and track down the fleeing suspects.
Nwadiogbu also urged travellers to avoid night journeys, especially on routes identified as vulnerable to attacks.
He advised motorists and passengers embarking on long-distance trips to consider stopping in nearby towns at night and continuing their journeys the following day.
The commissioner assured residents that the command was strengthening intelligence gathering and tactical operations to identify and apprehend members of the suspected kidnapping syndicate.
He added that the latest rescue operation was the second major incident involving travellers kidnapped along the route in recent weeks.
Benue: Police rescue kidnapped travellers after gun battle with abductors