Yabanet commiserated with families of the three passengers that lost their lives in this dastardly incident and pledge his commitment to bring perpetuators to book
By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
The Benue Police Command has successfully rescued 14 passengers kidnapped by armed gunmen, traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo on a Benue Links Bus.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO CSP Catherine Anene, Saturday, in Makurdi on behalf of CP Yabanet, the incident occurred on April 3, near Otukpo burnt bricks.
He said on 3/4/2025 at about 2030hrs a Toyota Hiace bus of Benue Links was attacked with the armed kidnappers shooting sporadically at the driver and a passenger at the front seat, leaving the victims sustaining various degrees of injuries.
Yabanet further revealed that upon receipt of this information, the police in collaboration with members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard swiftly moved to the scene and found the driver and one passenger who sustained gunshot injuries in the vehicle while others were whisked away by the kidnappers, adding that the injured were conveyed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead by a doctor.
He said the team launched a search for the kidnapped victims within the nearby forest immediately, stressing that On 4/4/2025 at about 1500hrs the police sighted the bandits in the forest and engaged them in a gun duel and in the process the superior fire power of the police subdued them and they took to their heels abandoning their captives.
The CP revealed that Unfortunately, they had inflicted matchet cuts on two of the victims before the rescue, pointing out that while 14 of the victims were rescued and taken to the hospital, one was confirmed dead and others are currently receiving treatment.
Yabanet commiserated with families of the three passengers that lost their lives in this dastardly incident and pledge his commitment to bring perpetuators to book.
He enjoined the good people of Otukpo to look out for suspects with gunshot injuries and report to the police as many of these bandits received gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire.