Police rescue 13 kidnap victims in Benue

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The 13 passengers abducted last Thursday along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State have been rescued after eight days in the kidnappers’ den.

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An 18-seater commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area was abducted on the night of August 13, 2026.

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While the state command spokesperson said that five of the passengers were rescued, he added that security operatives were on the trail of the remaining 13 passengers.

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Our correspondent learnt that a combined team of a joint tactical operation was able to rescue the victims on Thursday night at Amla-Cho Forest.

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The spokesperson for the state command, Peter Aondongu, confirmed the rescue of the 13 kidnap victims on Friday.

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Aondongu stated this in a statement issued on Friday, saying that the rescue followed sustained search and rescue operations by operatives of the command in collaboration with local security personnel.

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The statement read in part, “The latest rescue operation represents a significant breakthrough in the Command’s efforts to disrupt the activities of the kidnappers.

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“After about five days of intense and relentless search and rescue operations, operatives, acting on credible intelligence, embarked on a night operation which culminated in the successful rescue of the victims at about 0200hrs on 20 August 2026 at Amla-Cho Forest, Otukpo Local Government Area, where the operatives encountered the kidnappers and the victims.”

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The suspects were reported to have fled the scene under cover of darkness, while the victims were successfully rescued unhurt.

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The PPRO added that during the search and rescue operations, operatives engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, during which one of the suspects was neutralised, while an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the scene.

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Aondongu said the rescued victims were taken to a medical facility for medical attention and thereafter transported to their respective destinations in a chartered bus.

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He added that operatives were currently intensifying efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects, who were being pursued through sustained intelligence-led operations.

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He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadiogbu, had commended the personnel of the command for their courage, resilience and sustained efforts which had led to the safe rescue of the victims.

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He said the CP assured members of the public that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, remained committed to protecting lives and property and would continue to sustain operations against criminal elements across the state.

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While appreciating the cooperation of members of the public, the CP urged residents, particularly those within the affected communities, to remain vigilant and promptly provide credible information that could assist ongoing efforts to apprehend the suspects and prevent similar incidents.

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The command also advised transport operators to ensure that accurate and complete passenger manifests were maintained for every trip, as proper documentation is critical to facilitating timely identification, verification and rescue efforts during emergencies.

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