The Benue State Police Command has rescued the 13 remaining passengers abducted along the Otukpo–Adoka Road while travelling from Enugu to Abuja.

The victims were among passengers kidnapped on August 14, 2026, after gunmen intercepted their vehicle along the road and whisked them into the bush.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, confirmed the rescue in a statement on Friday.

According to the Command, the victims were rescued at about 2:00 am on August 20 at Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area following about five days of sustained search and rescue operations.

The operation was carried out by police operatives in collaboration with local security personnel after intelligence reportedly led them to the location where the victims were being held.

Police said the operatives encountered the kidnappers during the night operation, but the suspects fled under the cover of darkness.

All 13 victims were rescued unhurt.

The Command also disclosed that one of the suspected kidnappers had earlier been killed during an encounter with security operatives.

According to the statement, operatives searching for the abducted passengers encountered the kidnappers at about 6:00pm on August 16, leading to a fierce gun battle.

One of the suspects was neutralised during the exchange, while an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

Following their rescue, the victims were taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment before being transported to their respective destinations in a chartered bus.

The police also clarified discrepancies surrounding the actual number of passengers kidnapped during the incident.

According to the Command, the initial passenger manifest showed that nine persons were still in captivity following the earlier rescue of five victims.

Further verification, however, revealed that four additional passengers were not captured on the manifest, bringing the number rescued in the latest operation to 13.

The development prompted the Command to caution transport operators on the importance of maintaining accurate passenger manifests.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, commended the operatives involved in the operation for their courage and resilience.

Nwadiogbu assured residents that efforts were being intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

He also urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in apprehending the suspects and preventing further attacks.

The Command advised transport operators to maintain accurate and complete passenger manifests for every journey, noting that proper documentation could facilitate the identification and rescue of passengers during emergencies.