Benue State Police rescue 13 kidnapped passengers

The Benue State Police Command has rescued 13 passengers who were kidnapped while traveling from Enugu to Abuja. The victims were abducted on August 13 or 14, 2026, from a commercial bus along the Otukpo–Adoka and Ankpechi–Omutele axes.

The rescue occurred during a night operation at approximately 02:00 hrs on August 20, 2026, in the Amla-Cho Forest within the Otukpo Local Government Area. Police operatives, working alongside local security personnel, encountered the kidnappers during the operation. While the suspects fled into the darkness, the victims were rescued unhurt.

During the ongoing search and rescue efforts, security forces engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle on August 16, resulting in one suspect being neutralized and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.

Authorities noted a discrepancy in the initial passenger manifest; while five victims had been previously rescued, the total number of victims was higher than initially reported because four additional passengers had not been captured on the original documentation. The rescued individuals were provided medical attention before being transported to their destinations.