THE Benue State Police Command has launched a manhunt for suspected kidnappers following the abduction of passengers from a commercial vehicle in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.
Gunmen reportedly attacked a Hummer bus with registration number 14B-143BN along the Eke axis at about 6:30 pm on Sunday.
The assailants were said to have ambushed the vehicle, robbed the occupants, and whisked several passengers into the nearby bush.
Confirming the incident in a terse statement on Monday to Channels Television, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said one of the abducted passengers, identified as Paul Terns, was rescued during a joint security operation.
“We are investigating a suspected kidnapping where a Hummer bus with registration number 14B-43BN was parked by the road in Inugbokolo.
“On receipt of the information, police tactical teams, the military, and Benue State Community Volunteer Guards arrived at the scene, combed the bush, and rescued one Paul Terns, who escaped from the hands of the suspected kidnappers.
“Additional reinforcement has been sent to the location to locate the other passengers as soon as possible,” Edet stated.
The attack occurred amid renewed calls for peace following a spate of killings in Benue, which have prompted protests and public outcry across the state.
The rising death toll and destruction of property in the ‘Food Basket of the Nation’ state have also drawn national and international condemnation, with many attributing the violence to suspected armed herdsmen.
Following mounting pressure, President Bola Tinubu visited the state last Wednesday, where he met with victims and inaugurated a peace committee.
The committee has since commenced dialogue with traditional rulers to restore calm in the region.
