Gunmen have abducted 14 passengers travelling along the Otukpo–Adoka road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Thursday night, August 13, 2026, when an 18-seater commercial bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja was reportedly ambushed along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
A resident, Ochai, who spoke with Punch on Friday, said the gunmen forced all the passengers into the surrounding forest.
“Some gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Abuja between Omutele and Ankpechi along Otukpo–Adoka road yesterday (Thursday) night. All the passengers in the vehicle were whisked away by the gunmen,” he said.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying five of the abducted passengers had so far been rescued.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command launched a coordinated rescue operation early Friday morning in collaboration with other security agencies.
According to him, the operation involved an exchange of gunfire between security operatives and the suspected kidnappers.
“The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a kidnapping incident involving a commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of 13 August 2026,” the statement read.
“Following the incident, operatives of the command commenced a coordinated rescue operation early this (Friday) morning. The operation, which involved an exchange of gunfire, has so far resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy, while nine others remain in the custody of the suspected kidnappers.”
Aondongu disclosed that one of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was taken to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment.
He said the police, working alongside other security agencies, had intensified efforts to rescue the remaining nine victims.
The police spokesperson added that the operation was being conducted cautiously, with the safety of the abducted passengers given priority.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, assured the victims’ families and members of the public that security agencies would continue their efforts until all the remaining passengers were rescued.
He urged residents of communities along the affected route to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information that could assist the ongoing rescue operation.