Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have secured the release of 13 travellers who were abducted along the Otukpo Adoka highway on Friday, August 18, 2026.

The victims were on their way from Enugu to Abuja when gunmen intercepted their vehicle and took them into the bush.

In a statement on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said the rescue followed days of coordinated tracking by police teams and local vigilantes.

According to the police, the team located the kidnappers’ hideout and engaged them in a shootout. One of the abductors was killed during the exchange, and an AK-47 rifle with rounds of ammunition was recovered.

All 13 passengers were found unharmed. They were given medical checks and later assisted to continue their journey.

The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, praised the operatives for their bravery. He said the operation also revealed lapses in passenger record-keeping by transport operators, as not all those abducted were on the initial manifest.

The CP assured residents that the Command, working with other security agencies, will sustain operations to flush out criminal gangs from the state and bring the remaining suspects to justice.

Source: Benue Police Command..