The Benue State Police Command rescued the remaining 13 passengers kidnapped along the Otukpo-Adoka road while traveling from Enugu to Abuja.
The victims were among the passengers kidnapped on August 14, 2026, after armed men intercepted their vehicle on the road and took 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 around 2:00 am on August 20 in Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area, after approximately five days of sustained search and rescue operations.
The operation was carried out by police officers in collaboration with local security personnel after intelligence services reportedly led them to the location where the victims were being held.
Police said officers found the kidnappers during the overnight operation, but the suspects fled under the cover of darkness.
All 13 victims were rescued unharmed.
The Command also revealed that one of the alleged kidnappers had been killed earlier during an encounter with security agents.
According to the statement, officers searching for the kidnapped passengers encountered the kidnappers around 6:00 pm on August 16, leading to a fierce shootout.
One of the suspects was neutralized 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 center for examination and treatment before being transported to their respective destinations on a chartered bus.
Police also clarified discrepancies regarding the actual number of passengers kidnapped during the incident.
According to the Command, the initial passenger manifest showed that nine people were still in captivity after the previous rescue of five victims.
However, further verification revealed that four additional passengers were not captured on the manifest, bringing the number of those rescued in the latest operation to 13.
This development led the Command to warn transportation operators about the importance of maintaining accurate passenger manifests.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus CN Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved in the operation for their bravery and resilience.
Nwadiogbu assured residents that efforts were being intensified to locate and arrest the fleeing suspects.
He also urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to remain vigilant and provide credible information that can help security agencies apprehend suspects and prevent further attacks.
The Command advised transportation operators to maintain accurate and complete passenger manifests for each trip, noting that proper documentation could facilitate the identification and rescue of passengers during emergencies.