Benue Police rescue eight kidnap victims, arrest 17 over mob attack on officers, passengers

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight victims of a kidnapping incident in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

The Command alao arrested 17 suspects in connection with a mob attack on police officers at Adagi, Kwande LGA of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Friday during an emergency press conference in Makurdi, saying the latest operations demonstrated the command’s determination to protect lives and property and bring criminals to justice.

According to him, armed men on September 13, 2026, at about 11pm, intercepted a commercial bus travelling along the Ankpenchi-Ogobia axis in Ohimini and abducted 13 persons.

Nwadiogbu said police operatives immediately commenced coordinated search and rescue efforts, leading to the rescue of four victims shortly after the incident, while nine others remained in the custody of the kidnappers.

He explained that in the early hours of Friday, September 18, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, and other tactical teams, who had been conducting search and rescue operations since September 14, stormed the suspected kidnappers’ camp at the Ankpenchi axis of Amla Forest, Ohimini LGA, following credible intelligence.

The police boss said the operation resulted in an exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the kidnappers, during which eight of the remaining victims were rescued.

He, however, disclosed that one of the victims sustained fatal injuries inflicted by the kidnappers during the attack and subsequently died in another part of the forest.

Nwadiogbu said the rescued victims were safe and receiving necessary attention, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate and recover the corpse of the deceased victim.

In another development, the commissioner said police operatives attached to the Otukpo Area Command arrested a suspect, Sunday Oguche, during a stop-and-search operation on September 11.

He said one locally fabricated pistol was recovered from the suspect, adding that investigation was ongoing to establish the source of the firearm and determine his possible connection with other criminal activities.

The commissioner also disclosed that the command had made significant progress in its investigation into the August 30 mob attack at Adagi, along the Jato-Aka-Adikpo Road in Kwande Local Government Area.

The attack, according to him, followed a fatal motor accident, after which the mob attacked police officers who were passengers in the vehicle.

Nwadiogbu said the mob vandalised and destroyed a Toyota Hilux vehicle, damaged the roof of the police station and took away mobile phones and other personal belongings belonging to the officers.

He disclosed that a senior police officer who was in the vehicle sustained serious injuries during the attack and was still hospitalized and in a coma.

The commissioner added that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Kwande, who arrived with a team to rescue victims of the accident, was also attacked and sustained multiple machete cuts.

Nwadiogbu said investigation into the incident had so far led to the arrest of 17 suspects, adding that the suspects and recovered exhibits had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, for further investigation.

He condemned the mob attack and urged the people not to take laws into their hands saying he would not sit back and watch people live in a state a lawless life.

He commended the officers and tactical teams involved in the recent operations for their courage and commitment, assuring residents that the command would continue to work with other security agencies, traditional institutions, community stakeholders and members of the public to sustain peace and security in the state.

The police commissioner urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police to assist security agencies in preventing and tackling criminal activities across the state.