Police Deploy Drones To Rescue Kidnapped Benue Bus Passengers

Police Deploy Drones To Rescue Kidnapped Benue Bus Passengers

 

 

The Benue State Police Command announced on Monday that it has deployed drones to locate the 11 passengers and the driver who were abducted near Eke in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.

All Facts News reports that gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, abducted 11 passengers and a driver from a vehicle belonging to the Benue State Transport Company, known as Benue Links, at approximately 6:30 pm on Sunday.

The bus was reportedly intercepted at Eke in Okpokwu LG, situated along the Otukpo-Otukpa-Enugu highway.

A source previously informed journalists that the assailants, after stopping the vehicle, robbed the passengers of their possessions and subsequently took them into the bush.

The management of Benue Links confirmed the abduction, stating that the unfortunate vehicle had departed from Abeokuta in Ogun State, heading to Makurdi on Sunday, when the gunmen intercepted it.

This incident was confirmed in a statement released to journalists in Makurdi on Monday.

According to The PUNCH, the Information Officer of the company, Johnson Daniel, stated in the announcement that there were 12 passengers and the driver on board at the time of the interception.

It was reported that one passenger managed to escape from the kidnappers and subsequently reported to the police station in Eke.

The statement read: “We regret to inform the public of an unfortunate incident involving one of our buses, with Registration Number 14B – 143BN, which was attacked while en route Makurdi from Abeokuta.

“The attack occurred at about 6:30 pm on Sunday, 22nd June 2025, at Eke Elengbecho, in Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue State.

“The vehicle, which departed Abeokuta with 12 passengers and the driver, was later discovered by the roadside at Eke with some of the passengers’ luggage; however, the driver and 11 passengers were missing.

“One passenger managed to escape and reach the Eke Police Station and reported that the bus was ambushed by armed kidnappers.”

The management denounced the assault on the passengers and guaranteed that it was working in conjunction with security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted passengers and the driver.

In a confirmation of the situation, the state police command stated that a coalition of security operatives had been dispatched into the bush to rescue the victims of the kidnapping.

The command spokesperson, Udeme Edet, said, “On receipt of the information, police tactical teams, military and Benue State Protection Guard arrived at the scene, combed the bush and rescued one Paul Terna who escaped from the hands of the suspected kidnappers.

“Additional reinforcement has been sent to the location to locate other passengers as soon as possible.”

Giving an update on Monday evening, Edet said the state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, had moved to the area to monitor the operation.

Edet said, “There is no update for now, but the Commissioner of Police has moved to the area, even, though we have deployed drones in the area.”

All Facts News understands that the Ogbadibo/Okpokwu section of the Otukpo/Enugu federal highway is notorious for kidnapping, as no fewer than three incidents of kidnapping have been recorded on the road in one month.