The Benue police have swiftly launched a rescue operation after gunmen kidnapped 12 travellers along the Otukpo-Otukpa-Enugu highway.
Armed attackers reportedly ambushed a Benue Links commercial bus near Eke town in Okpokwu Local Government Area and abducted the passengers.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen intercepted the bus, robbed the passengers, and forced them into the nearby forest.
Notably, the highway near Ogbadibo and Okpokwu has seen a disturbing rise in kidnappings over the past few weeks.
Immediately after confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer SP Udeme Edet announced that officers had launched a rescue mission.
She said the tactical team, which includes drone surveillance units and ground forces, began combing the forest to locate the victims.
Furthermore, she added, “We’ve deployed drones and anti-kidnapping squads to sweep the area and recover all the kidnapped passengers.”
Fortunately, security forces rescued one passenger, Paul Terna, after he escaped from the abductors and fled into the dense forest.
In addition, Edet noted that the rescue team was coordinating closely with the military to maximize the operation’s effectiveness and urgency.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police visited the scene to personally oversee the operation and boost morale among the deployed officers.
Separately, Benue Links Transport confirmed that the hijacked vehicle carried 12 passengers and the driver when it left Abeokuta for Makurdi.
Company spokesperson Johnson Daniel said the bus was attacked around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday near the volatile Eke axis.
He further explained that the lone escapee reported the kidnapping to police at the nearest station shortly after his rescue.
As the operation continues, police have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate fully with the ongoing rescue efforts.
Finally, authorities called on the public to report any suspicious activity or useful information to the nearest police station immediately.
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