The Benue State Police Command has successfully rescued 14 passengers who were abducted during a violent ambush on a Benue Links transport bus near the Ikobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
According to a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Catherine Anene, the rescue followed a confrontation with the attackers deep within the forest.
The incident occurred on the evening of Thursday, April 3, 2025, when armed assailants intercepted an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo. The bus came under heavy gunfire at the Otukpo Burnt Bricks area, targeting the driver and a front-seat passenger.
“On April 3, 2025, at about 8:30 pm, a Toyota Hiace bus of Benue Links transport company was conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo, and on reaching Otukpo Burnt Bricks area, a gang of armed kidnappers shot sporadically at the driver and a passenger at the front seat, causing the driver to stop on the highway,” CSP Anene stated.
Responding swiftly, security forces — including the Benue State Civil Protection Guard — arrived at the scene, where they discovered the wounded driver and passenger inside the vehicle. Tragically, both later died from their injuries.
“Upon receipt of this information, the police, in collaboration with members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, swiftly moved to the scene and found the driver and one passenger who sustained gunshot injuries in the vehicle while the kidnappers whisked away others,” Anene explained.
“The injured were conveyed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead by a doctor,” she added.
Search operations began immediately, leading the security team into nearby forest areas. The following afternoon, on April 4, the kidnappers were located. A gun battle ensued, during which the suspects fled, leaving their captives behind.
“The team launched a search for the kidnapped victims within the nearby forest immediately. On April 4, 2025, at about 3 pm, they sighted the bandits in the forest and engaged them in a gun duel. The superior firepower of the police subdued them, and they took to their heels, abandoning their captives,” the police said.
Sadly, two of the rescued passengers had suffered machete injuries. One of the 14 victims later succumbed to those wounds at the hospital, while the rest are undergoing treatment.
“Unfortunately, they had inflicted matchet cuts on two of the victims before the rescue. Fourteen victims were rescued and taken to the hospital, where one was confirmed dead, and others are currently receiving treatment,” the statement continued.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Steve Yabanet, expressed his condolences to the families of the three deceased and vowed that the criminals responsible would be brought to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state command, Mr. Steve Yabanet, commiserates with families of the three passengers that lost their lives in this dastardly incident and pledges his commitment to bring the perpetrators to book,” Anene conveyed.
“He enjoins the good people of Otukpo to look out for suspects with gunshot injuries and report to the police as many of these bandits received gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire,” she added.
