Benue Police Rescue 14 Kidnap Victims, Confirm Death of Bus Driver

The Benue State Police Command has successfully rescued 14 passengers who were abducted by armed assailants along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway. The victims were traveling in a Benue Links Toyota Hiace bus when the incident occurred.

According to a statement released on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Catherine Anene, the incident took place on April 3, 2025, at approximately 8:30 p.m. near the Otukpo Burnt Bricks area. The armed attackers opened fire on the bus, fatally wounding the driver and a front-seat passenger, forcing the vehicle to a halt.

Upon receiving distress information, officers of the Benue Police Command, in collaboration with the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, swiftly mobilized to the scene. They discovered the driver and a passenger with gunshot wounds still in the vehicle. Both were rushed to the hospital, where they were later confirmed dead.

The security team immediately launched a search operation within the surrounding forest. By 3:00 p.m. the following day, the operatives located the kidnappers and engaged them in a gunfight. Overpowered by the police’s superior firepower, the criminals fled, abandoning their captives.

Unfortunately, two of the kidnapped victims had already suffered machete wounds before the rescue. Fourteen individuals were successfully freed and taken to the hospital, where one additional victim was confirmed dead. The remaining survivors are currently receiving medical treatment.

Commissioner of Police, CP Steve Yabanet, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed the command’s dedication to tracking down and prosecuting the perpetrators. He urged residents of Otukpo and surrounding areas to report any individuals with gunshot wounds, as several of the attackers were believed to have been injured during the exchange of fire.