The police in Benue State have deployed drones and ground teams in an operation to find 12 travelers who were kidnapped by armed men in Okpokwu, headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.
The kidnapped travelers, 11 passengers and their driver, were traveling in a bus owned by the Benue Links Transport Company when they were attacked around 6:30 pm on Sunday.
The attack and kidnapping of the 12 victims happened along a highway known for frequent kidnappings, near Eke in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The state police spokesperson, SP Udeme Edet, in confirming the abduction, mentioned that special units, drone teams, and other tactical forces have been sent to search for the abducted victims.
He confirmed that one of the kidnapped victims, named Paul Terna, managed to escape and was rescued by the police.
According to him, the armed men stopped the bus, stole from the passengers, before taking them into the nearby forest.
He also stated that the highway, which connects Benue and Enugu States, has seen a rise in kidnappings recently, with at least three such cases reported in the last month within the same area.
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“When we received the report, our teams, along with the military and local volunteer guards, quickly went to the scene.
“One person has been rescued, and more support has been sent to help with the search,” Edet said.
He also noted that the state commissioner of police is supervising the rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the management of Benue Links Transport Company confirmed that the bus was traveling from Abeokuta in Ogun State to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when the attack occurred.
The transport company verified that there were 12 passengers on board the bus, including the driver.
The company also mentioned that the escaped passenger informed the police in Eke, which led to a quick response from security forces.