Thirteen passengers abducted by gunmen along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State have been rescued after spending eight days in captivity.

The victims were rescued around 2am on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area following a sustained search-and-rescue operation involving police personnel and local security operatives.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Peter Aondongu, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday, saying the operation was carried out based on credible intelligence.

The victims were among passengers travelling in an 18-seater commercial bus from Enugu State to Abuja when the vehicle was attacked on the Ankpechi–Omutele route on the night of August 13.

Five passengers had earlier been rescued, while security personnel continued efforts to locate the remaining 13.

According to the police, operatives encountered the kidnappers during a night operation at the forest and engaged them in a gun battle.

One of the suspected kidnappers was reportedly neutralised during the encounter, while the others escaped into the surrounding forest under the cover of darkness.

An AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the scene, the command said.

The rescued passengers were found unhurt and were subsequently taken to a medical facility for examination before being conveyed to their respective destinations in a chartered bus.

Aondongu said security personnel had intensified efforts to locate and arrest the fleeing suspects through intelligence-driven operations.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers and other personnel involved in the operation, praising their determination and resilience in securing the release of the victims.

Nwadiogbu also assured residents that the command, working with other security agencies, would sustain operations aimed at protecting lives and property and dismantling criminal networks across the state.

He appealed to residents, especially those in communities affected by the incident, to remain alert and provide security agencies with timely and reliable information that could aid the arrest of the fleeing suspects.

The police further advised commercial transport operators to keep comprehensive passenger manifests for every journey, noting that accurate records could assist authorities in quickly identifying passengers and coordinating rescue operations during emergencies.