Gunmen have abducted 14 passengers travelling along the Otukpo–Adoka road in Benue State, with the police confirming the rescue of five victims.
The incident occurred on Thursday night when an 18-seater commercial bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja was reportedly ambushed along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
A resident, Ochai, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said the gunmen forced all the passengers into the surrounding forest.
“Some gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Abuja between Omutele and Ankpechi along Otukpo–Adoka road yesterday (Thursday) night,” Ochai said.
“All the passengers in the vehicle were whisked away by the gunmen.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said operatives launched a coordinated rescue operation early Friday.
According to him, the operation involved an exchange of gunfire between security operatives and the suspected kidnappers.
“The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a kidnapping incident involving a commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of 13 August 2026,” Aondongu said in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi.
“Following the incident, operatives of the command commenced a coordinated rescue operation early this (Friday) morning.
“The operation, which involved an exchange of gunfire, has so far resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy, while nine others remain in the custody of the suspected kidnappers.”
The police spokesperson disclosed that one of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was taken to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment.
He said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, had intensified efforts to rescue the remaining nine victims.
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Aondongu added that the operation was being conducted cautiously, with the safety of the abducted passengers prioritised.
The state Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, assured the victims’ families and members of the public that security operatives would continue their efforts until all the remaining passengers were rescued.
He urged residents of the affected communities to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information that could assist in the rescue operation.
The latest incident comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in Otukpo and Ohimini Local Government Areas, where residents have reported a series of killings and kidnappings in recent weeks.
