Police Rescue Four-Year-Old Boy, Four Others as Nine Passengers Remain Captive After Benue Bus Abduction

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

It was supposed to be a routine journey from Enugu State to the nation's capital. But for 14 passengers travelling in a commercial bus along the Otukpo–Adoka road in Benue State, the night of Thursday, August 13, 2026, became a descent into terror when suspected bandits ambushed their vehicle, forced them into the surrounding forest, and left their empty bus abandoned on the road. The Benue State Police Command has since confirmed that five of the victims, including a four-year-old boy, have been rescued, while nine others remain in the custody of the kidnappers, according to multiple reports on August 14, 2026.

The abduction occurred along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area, a stretch of road that has become a flashpoint for criminal activity in recent weeks. A resident, Ochai, who spoke with Punch on Friday, described the chilling moment the gunmen struck. “Some gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Abuja between Omutele and Ankpechi along Otukpo–Adola road yesterday (Thursday) night,” he said. “All the passengers in the vehicle were whisked away by the gunmen.”

The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday through its spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, who said operatives launched a coordinated rescue operation in the early hours of Friday morning following the abduction. The operation, which involved an exchange of gunfire between security operatives and the suspected kidnappers, resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy. However, nine other passengers remain in captivity.

“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 said in a statement. One of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was taken to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment. The police said the operation was being conducted with utmost caution, with the safety of the abducted passengers as the primary objective.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, acknowledged the concerns of the victims' families and members of the public, assuring them that concerted efforts were underway to secure the safe release of those still in captivity. He urged residents of the affected communities and surrounding areas to remain calm and vigilant and to provide the police with credible information that could assist the ongoing rescue operation and prevent similar incidents.

The abduction has renewed concerns over the safety of travellers along routes connecting Benue with other parts of the country. Residents of Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas have reported a series of killings and kidnappings in recent weeks, raising fears that the security situation in the region is deteriorating. The police have intensified efforts to rescue the remaining nine victims, working with other security agencies to track the kidnappers and secure the release of the hostages.

The incident occurred just days after the Benue State Police Command announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the April 2026 abduction of passengers along the Makurdi–Otukpo road. Despite these arrests, the latest abduction suggests that criminal networks remain active and are continuing to target travellers along the state's highways. The police have assured the public that they are committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and travellers in Benue State, and that they will continue to provide updates as developments unfold.

For the families of the nine passengers still in captivity, the wait is agonising. Their loved ones are somewhere in the bush, held against their will, while security forces race against time to bring them home. The rescue of the four-year-old boy and the four other victims offers a glimmer of hope, but the ordeal is far from over. As the police intensify their efforts, the people of Benue State and the wider nation can only pray that the remaining victims are returned safely to their families.

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