{
  "id": 8342035,
  "title": "Police rescue eight kidnapped Benue passengers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/police-rescue-eight-kidnapped-benue-passengers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T00:44:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/police-rescue-eight-kidnapped-benue-passengers/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Benue State Police Command successfully rescued eight kidnapped passengers along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia route in Ohimini Local Government Area on Friday, September 18, 2026. State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, revealed this during a press conference at the state headquarters in Makurdi.\n\nOn September 13, suspected kidnappers intercepted a commercial bus at around 11pm and abducted all 13 passengers. The police confirmed that the rescued victims are safe and receiving necessary medical attention, while efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining kidnappers and recover the deceased's body.\n\nOn September 18, at approximately 0630 hours, the Command's Violent Crime Response Unit, along with other tactical teams, launched a search and rescue operation based on credible intelligence. Acting on this information, the teams stormed the kidnapper's camp at the Ankpenchi axis of Amla Forest in Ohimini LGA. This resulted in a brief firefight where eight victims were rescued. Tragically, one of the victims succumbed to fatal injuries sustained during the attack in another part of the forest.",
  "summary": "The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight passengers who were kidnapped along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis in Ohimini Local Government Area of the stat Read More: https://punchng.com/police-rescue-eight-kidnapped-benue-passengers/",
  "key_points": [
    "Eight kidnapped passengers rescued in Benue State",
    "Incident occurred on September 18, 2026",
    "One victim died during rescue operation"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rescue of eight kidnapped passengers brings relief to their families and highlights the police efforts to tackle kidnapping in Benue State, though one victim's death underscores the risks involved.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}