Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Wale Abass, said the command has rescued three kidnapped victims in Otukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner made the disclosure in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, and made available to newsmen yesterday.
The statement reads: “On 15/11/2022, at about 2330hrs, information was received that a Toyota Hiace bus en route Otukpa-Onitsha was attacked by suspected kidnappers who abducted some passengers in the vehicle.”
He said: “A joint patrol team made up of the police, military and vigilante operating within the area moved swiftly to the scene for a rescue operation.”
He said after an intense gun duel, the kidnappers abandoned the vehicle and took to their heels. He said the police rescued three victims and also recovered the said bus. He, however, regretted that while chasing the kidnappers into a nearby forest suspected to be their hideout, the personnel came across one Peter Ejembi, a member of the Benue State Volunteer Guard, who paid the supreme price with his life.
The commissioner said his body has been recovered and deposited at a morgue in Otukpa.
Abass, who noted that the command has deployed additional teams for further operations in the area, urged members of the community to provide necessary information for a successful operation.