The Benue State Police Command has initiated a search-and-rescue operation involving drones and ground forces to locate 12 individuals abducted by armed men in Okpokwu Local Government Area.
The victims—11 passengers and a driver—were traveling in a Benue Links Transport Company bus when they were ambushed around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday near Eke, a known hotspot for kidnappings along the Otukpo-Otukpa-Enugu highway.
Reports indicate that the gunmen stopped the vehicle, robbed the passengers, and took them into a nearby forest. This route, linking Benue to Enugu, has seen increasing danger, with at least three kidnappings reported in the Ogbadibo/Okpokwu area in the past month.
Benue State Police Spokesperson SP Udeme Edet confirmed the incident, stating that a tactical team, including anti-kidnapping squads and drone units, has been deployed to rescue the victims.
“Upon receiving the alert, police, military, and Benue State Protection Guard personnel rushed to the scene, combed the area, and rescued one victim, Paul Terna, who escaped from the kidnappers,” Edet said. “Reinforcements have been dispatched, and the Commissioner of Police has moved to the area with drone surveillance in progress.”
Meanwhile, Benue Links Transport Company confirmed that one of its buses, traveling from Abeokuta to Makurdi, was hijacked during the attack. Company spokesperson Johnson Daniel stated that the bus had 12 passengers and a driver onboard. One passenger reportedly escaped and alerted the police in Eke.
Authorities are intensifying efforts to secure the remaining victims’ safe release. Further updates will be provided as the operation progresses.
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