Benue: Police engage kidnappers in gun battle, rescue 8 victims
The Police in Benue State on Friday rescued eight victims abducted along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis of Ohimini Local Government Area of the state. State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the eight rescued victims were among the nine remaining hostages forced into the bush, while the ninth victim died from gunshot injuries sustained during the […]
In Benue State, police engaged in a gun battle with suspected kidnappers and successfully rescued eight victims on Friday. State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, announced that the eight rescued individuals were among the remaining nine hostages who were forced into the bush. The ninth victim tragically died from gunshot injuries sustained during the abduction.
Nwadiogbu revealed this during a press conference at the police headquarters in Makurdi. The incident occurred around 11pm on Sunday when armed men intercepted a commercial bus traveling from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to Abuja along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis in Benue State. The kidnappers abducted 13 passengers, but police immediately initiated search and rescue operations.
Four victims were rescued shortly after the initial attack, while nine others were held captive by the kidnappers. The Violent Crime Response Unit and other tactical teams conducted search and rescue operations since September 14, acting on credible intelligence. At about 6:30am on Friday, police stormed the suspected kidnappers' camp near the Ankpenchi axis in Otukpo, Amla forest, where they engaged in a shootout with the criminals.
During the battle, eight of the remaining victims were rescued. The police commissioner disclosed that the ninth victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during the initial attack, died while being moved between locations in the forest by the kidnappers. The deceased was allegedly kept alive by the kidnappers to obtain ransom before his death.
Nwadiogbu expressed his sadness over the victim's death and stated that police operatives are still in the forest to recover the body and apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate. The commissioner warned travelers against embarking on night journeys, especially along vulnerable routes, and advised motorists and passengers to stop in towns and continue their journeys the next day.
He emphasized the need for greater caution among members of the public due to the current security situation. Nwadiogbu emphasized that this was the second major operation involving kidnapped travelers along this route in recent weeks.
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