The Nigeria Police, Benue state command have announced the successful rescue of nine persons who were abducted from a vehicle traveling along the Ojano-Oglewu road, near Otukpo local government area of the state.
The incident occurred reportedly on June 13, 2024, when gunmen ambushed a “Benue links” vehicle carrying passengers from Onitsha to Makurdi.
According to a statement by the police public relations officer for the Benue state command, SP Catherine Anene, the assailants emerged from a nearby forest, shooting sporadically at the vehicle and forcing it to a stop.
The driver was killed in the process after sustaining fatal gunshot injuries, while the passengers were taken hostage.
Anene confirmed that the police responded promptly to the incident, rescuing nine kidnapped victims and apprehending some of the kidnappers involved.
On June 13, 2024, at about 1700 hrs, information was received that, while a Benue Link vehicle was conveying passengers from Onitsha to Makurdi, gunmen suddenly emerged from a nearby forest around Ojano-Oglewu and shot sporadically at the vehicle, causing the vehicle to stop at the forest.
“The driver of the said vehicle sustained gunshot injuries that led to his death while the passengers were kidnapped.
“During the investigation, nine suspects were rescued, while on June 17, 2024, three suspects, named Saleh Hassan ‘m’, Yakubu Alhaji Kande and Yunusa Idris, all of Keana LGA, Nasarawa State, were trailed and arrested in connection with the case,” the statement read.
