Leadnaija
The Benue State Police Command has launched a joint search-and-rescue operation involving drones and tactical ground forces to locate 12 individuals abducted by armed men in Okpokwu Local Government Area.
The victims — 11 passengers and a driver were travelling in a Benue Links Transport Company bus when they were ambushed around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday along the Otukpo-Otukpa-Enugu highway near Eke, a known kidnapping hotspot.
According to reports, the gunmen intercepted the commercial vehicle, robbed the passengers, and dragged them into the nearby bush. The road, which links Benue and Enugu States, has witnessed a spike in abductions in recent weeks, with at least three incidents recorded in the Ogbadibo/Okpokwu axis in the past month.
Confirming the incident, Benue Police spokesperson SP Udeme Edet said anti-kidnapping units, drone surveillance teams, and other tactical operatives have been deployed to comb the area. One of the victims, identified as Paul Terna, reportedly escaped and was rescued by security personnel.
“On receiving the report, our teams, alongside the military and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, moved to the scene. One victim has been rescued, and more reinforcements have been sent to aid the operation,” Edet stated, adding that the Commissioner of Police is personally overseeing efforts in the area.
Meanwhile, Benue Links management has confirmed the abduction. In a statement issued in Makurdi on Monday, company spokesperson Johnson Daniel said the bus was en route from Abeokuta, Ogun State, to Makurdi when it was attacked. He confirmed that 12 passengers and the driver were onboard at the time.
The company also noted that the escaped passenger reported the incident to police authorities in Eke, prompting the swift security response.
