Benue Police Command Rescues 13 Kidnapped Abuja-Bound Passengers After Gun Battle | Sahara Reporters

The passengers were abducted on Friday, August 18, 2026, according to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu.

The Benue State Police Command has rescued 13 passengers who were kidnapped along the Otukpo–Adoka Road while travelling from Enugu to Abuja.

The passengers were abducted on Friday, August 18, 2026, according to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu.

Aondongu said the rescue followed days of sustained search operations by police operatives working in collaboration with local security personnel to locate the victims and apprehend their abductors.

According to the statement, the operation eventually led security operatives to the kidnappers’ hideout, where officers engaged the suspects in a gun battle.

During the encounter, one of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised, while an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were recovered from the criminals.

The police said the operation resulted in the rescue of all 13 kidnapped passengers, who were found unhurt.

The victims, according to the Command, received medical attention after their rescue and have since been conveyed to their respective destinations.

The Command, however, disclosed that the incident exposed gaps in passenger manifest documentation, noting that initial records did not capture all the victims.

The development highlights the difficulties security agencies may face in tracking kidnapped persons when accurate passenger information is not properly documented, particularly during investigations and rescue operations.

The police said the sustained search operation was part of efforts by the Command and other security stakeholders to ensure the safe recovery of the victims and prevent criminal elements from operating along the route.

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved in the operation for their courage and resilience.

Nwadiogbu also reassured residents and travellers in the state that the Command remained committed to protecting lives and property.

He further pledged continued collaboration with other security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and other forms of criminality across Benue State.

The Commissioner said the command would sustain efforts to rid the state of criminal elements, while vowing that fleeing suspects linked to the incident would be pursued and brought to justice.

The rescue comes amid continuing security concerns along major roads in parts of Benue State, where travellers and communities have faced threats from armed criminal groups.

The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could assist ongoing operations against criminal elements.

The command said its operatives would continue efforts to track down the remaining suspects involved in the kidnapping and ensure that those responsible are arrested and made to face the law.

The rescue of the 13 passengers therefore marks a significant success for the security agencies involved, even as the police continue their pursuit of suspects who fled during the operation.