Benue Police Rescue Kidnapped Travellers After Gun Battle with Abductors

The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight passengers who were abducted along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis of Ohimini Local Government Area. The victims were among 13 passengers travelling in a commercial bus from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to Abuja when they were reportedly abducted on September 13, 2026.

According to the state Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, the incident occurred at about 11 p.m. when suspected kidnappers intercepted the commercial bus. Four passengers were subsequently rescued, while nine others were taken farther into the forest. The police then began sustained search-and-rescue operations to locate the remaining victims.

The breakthrough came in the early hours of September 18, when officers attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit, alongside other tactical teams, moved on information concerning the suspected kidnappers’ location in the Ankpenchi area of Amla Forest. The operation led to an exchange of gunfire, after which eight of the remaining victims were successfully rescued.

Police said the rescued passengers were safe and receiving necessary attention. However, one of the abducted passengers reportedly sustained fatal injuries during the incident and died in another part of the forest. Authorities said efforts were continuing to recover the deceased victim and locate members of the suspected kidnapping group who fled the area.

The Benue Police Command said the operation followed several days of intelligence gathering and coordinated search efforts. Authorities have continued the investigation while working to apprehend the remaining suspects allegedly involved in the abduction. The command also urged residents to provide credible information that could assist ongoing security operations.