Benue Police Rescue 29 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 34 Foreign Nationals

The Benue State Police Command has rescued 29 kidnapped victims and arrested 34 foreign nationals during separate security operations across the state in October.

The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed the developments on Tuesday, October 27, during a briefing at the command headquarters in Makurdi.

He said the operations were carried out through intelligence gathering, patrols and collaboration with other security agencies and community-based security groups.

According to the commissioner, four passengers abducted after gunmen attacked a commercial vehicle along the Ayilamo–Tse-Abi Road in Logo Local Government Area were rescued on October 5.

The operation involved the police, Operation Whirl Stroke, Benue State Civil Protection Guards and local hunters.

Nwadiogbu also reported that 17 farmers abducted from Tse-Acha and Tse-Wuam communities in Bamun village, Tombo District, Logo Local Government Area, were rescued on October 7.

In another incident, eight victims, including a Catholic priest, were rescued following their abduction along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road in Ohimini Local Government Area on October 13.

The commissioner said two of the victims were rescued on October 16, while the remaining six were recovered on October 18.

The rescued victims were taken for medical examination and treatment, while two suspects were arrested in connection with the Ohimini incident, according to the police account.

The command also announced the arrest of 34 foreign nationals in two separate operations during the month.

Sixteen Cameroonian nationals were arrested in Otukpo Local Government Area on October 9 after they allegedly failed to produce the required travel documents.

In a separate operation on October 22, police intercepted 18 Nigerien nationals at Orokam while they were reportedly travelling to Ikom in Cross River State.

Nwadiogbu said the individuals were taken into custody for investigation and verification of their immigration status.

He added that the relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, would be involved in establishing the circumstances surrounding their entry into Nigeria and movements within the country.

The arrests remain subject to investigation, and the individuals' nationalities do not in themselves establish criminal wrongdoing.

Beyond the kidnapping rescues and arrests involving foreign nationals, the police commissioner reported that 14 other suspects had been arrested in separate operations.

The command also recovered seven locally fabricated firearms, 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, as well as other items, including mobile phones, charms and ATM cards.

The commissioner further disclosed that a suspected bandit was killed during an encounter involving security personnel along Amaafu–Abaji Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on October 2. A locally fabricated firearm was recovered during the operation, according to the police.

The reported activities form part of the command's security operations across Benue during the month.

Kidnapping has remained a concern for residents in affected areas, particularly people travelling along roads and those working in rural communities.

The rescue operations involved cooperation between formal security agencies and local groups familiar with the affected communities. The police said intelligence-led operations and cooperation from residents were important to its activities.

Nwadiogbu urged members of the public to provide credible information to security agencies to assist efforts to prevent crime and protect lives and property.

Investigations into the arrests and other reported cases are ongoing. The command has not indicated that all the individuals arrested have been charged or convicted.

The reported rescue of 29 victims marks a significant operational development for the command, while the investigations are expected to establish the circumstances of the separate incidents and determine any further action required under the law.