Thirteen passengers abducted along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State have been rescued after spending eight days in captivity.
The victims were among passengers travelling in an 18-seater commercial bus from Enugu State to Abuja when the vehicle was attacked on the night of August 13, 2026.
According to Punch, five passengers were initially rescued, while security operatives continued searching for the remaining 13.
The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Peter Aondongu, confirmed on Friday that the 13 remaining victims were rescued during a night operation at Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area.
Aondongu said the operation, conducted around 2am on August 20, followed several days of search and rescue efforts involving police operatives and local security personnel.
He said security operatives encountered the kidnappers during the operation, leading to a gun battle. One suspected kidnapper was reportedly neutralised, while an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered.
The suspects reportedly fled under cover of darkness.
The rescued passengers were said to be unharmed. Police took them to a medical facility for attention before arranging transportation to their respective destinations.
The command said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspects through intelligence-led operations.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the personnel involved in the rescue and assured residents that security agencies would continue operations against criminal elements.
Police also urged transport operators to maintain accurate passenger manifests for every journey, saying proper documentation could help security agencies identify and rescue victims more quickly during emergencies.
