Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Benue State Police Command has successfully rescued 13 passengers who were kidnapped along the Otukpo–Adoka Road on August 14, 2026, while travelling from Enugu to Abuja, in a dramatic operation that saw officers engage the abductors in a fierce gun battle and neutralise one suspect. The rescue, which took place at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area, followed five days of sustained search-and-rescue operations by police operatives in collaboration with local security personnel. The victims were among passengers of an 18-seater commercial bus that was ambushed by suspected armed herdsmen along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of August 13, 2026. Five passengers had been rescued hours after the incident, leaving 13 others in captivity.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, the rescue operation was a significant breakthrough in the command's efforts to disrupt the activities of kidnappers in the state. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives embarked on a night operation that culminated in the successful rescue of the victims. Although the suspects fled the scene under the cover of darkness, all 13 victims were rescued unhurt. Aondongu further disclosed that on August 16, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m., while continuing search-and-rescue operations, operatives engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, during which one suspect was neutralised. An AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the scene. The rescued victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment and thereafter transported to their respective destinations in a chartered bus.
The operation, however, exposed a troubling gap in passenger manifest documentation that could have hampered the rescue effort. While the initial manifest indicated that nine victims remained to be rescued following the earlier rescue of five victims, subsequent verification established that four additional passengers had not been captured on the manifest, bringing the number of victims rescued during the latest operation to 13. This discrepancy has prompted the police to advise transport operators to maintain accurate and complete passenger manifests for every trip, stressing that proper documentation is critical to facilitating timely identification, verification and rescue efforts during emergencies.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the personnel for their courage, resilience and sustained efforts, which led to the safe rescue of the victims. He assured members of the public that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, remains committed to protecting lives and property and would continue to sustain operations against criminal elements across the state. He also urged residents, particularly those within affected communities, to remain vigilant and promptly provide credible information that could assist ongoing efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent similar incidents.
The rescue of the 13 passengers brings to 18 the total number of victims rescued from the kidnapping incident, which has once again highlighted the persistent security challenges along the Otukpo–Adoka Road, a major route connecting Enugu to Abuja. The successful operation underscores the importance of intelligence-led policing and community collaboration in combating kidnapping and other forms of criminality. However, the manifest discrepancy also serves as a stark reminder of the need for transport operators to prioritise passenger documentation, as such records can be the difference between life and death in emergency situations. As the police intensify efforts to track down the fleeing suspects, the people of Benue State and the wider Nigerian public will be watching to see whether the arrests that follow will be sufficient to deter future incidents.
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