Benue Police rescue five people, including a four-year-old boy, after gunmen kidnapped passengers from an Enugu-to-Abuja bus in Ohimini LGA. Nine victims remain in captivity as operations continue.
Ohimini, Benue State — August 14, 2026
The Benue State Police Command has rescued five kidnap victims, including a four-year-old boy, following the abduction of passengers from a commercial bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja on the night of August 13, 2026.
According to a statement from the command, the bus was attacked along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area, with suspected kidnappers seizing a number of passengers.
Police operatives launched a coordinated rescue operation early the following morning, which involved an exchange of gunfire with the abductors.
Of the five victims freed so far, one sustained a gunshot injury during the rescue operation and was immediately taken to a medical facility in Otukpo, where he is receiving treatment.
Nine other victims remain in the custody of the kidnappers, and police say operations to secure their release are ongoing.
Operatives are working in collaboration with other security agencies to continue the rescue effort, with the command stressing that the operation is being carried out cautiously to prioritize the safety of those still held.
Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, acknowledged the concerns of the victims' families and the wider public, assuring them that concerted efforts are underway to secure the safe release of the remaining captives.
The command has urged residents in and around the affected communities to remain calm and vigilant, and to promptly share any credible information that could assist the operation or help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Police say further updates will be issued as the situation develops.
The Ohimini attack adds to a series of highway kidnapping incidents recorded across Benue and neighboring Kogi State in recent days, including twin rescue operations along the Ajaokuta–Itobe corridor earlier this month that freed 25 abducted commuters.
The recurring pattern underscores the persistent vulnerability of interstate travelers along major highway routes in Nigeria's North Central region.
More on Benue