*Four-year-old boy among victims rescued after gun battle with kidnappers
By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has rescued five victims abducted by suspected kidnappers who ambushed a commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on the night of Thursday, August 13, 2026, when the gunmen reportedly attacked the bus and took several passengers into the bush.
Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said operatives launched a coordinated rescue operation on Friday morning following the attack.
He said the operation, which involved an exchange of gunfire with the suspected kidnappers, resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy.
Aondongu said one of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was immediately evacuated to a medical facility in Otukpo, where he is receiving treatment.
The police spokesperson said operatives of the command, working with sister security agencies, had intensified efforts to rescue the other victims still being held by the kidnappers.
He said the rescue operation was being conducted with utmost caution to avoid endangering the lives of those in captivity.
“The operation is being conducted with utmost caution, with the lives and safety of the victims as the primary objective,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, acknowledged the concerns of the victims’ families and the general public, assuring them that concerted efforts were being made to secure the safe release of those still in captivity.
The command urged residents, particularly those living in and around the affected communities, to remain calm and vigilant and provide credible information that could assist the ongoing rescue operation.
It also appealed to members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities to the police to help prevent similar incidents.
“The Command will continue to provide updates on the situation as developments unfold,” Aondongu said.
