The Benue State Police Command has rescued a Catholic priest and seven other kidnap victims, while arresting two suspects in connection with their abduction.
The victims include Rev. Fr. John Otache of the Otukpo Diocese, who was kidnapped alongside seven others last Tuesday while returning from a village market along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road, before Ipiga Village in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
The police spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Makurdi.
He said the command launched a coordinated rescue operation after receiving a report of the abduction, with operatives working alongside personnel of the Police Mobile Force and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The statement read in part, “Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the command, in conjunction with personnel of the Police Mobile Force and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, were immediately mobilised to the area and launched a coordinated rescue operation.
“The operation led to the successful rescue of eight victims, with two rescued on October 16, 2026, and six on October 18, 2026.”
Aondongu said the operation also resulted in the arrest of two suspects, identified as Echefu Emmanuel and Obonyilor Emmanuel.
He added that the rescued victims had been taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for medical examinations and necessary treatment.
According to the spokesperson, the suspects were assisting the police with the ongoing investigation, while efforts had been intensified to arrest other members of the suspected gang who fled.
He said the command remained committed to ensuring that everyone involved in the abduction was brought to justice.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force for their support in tackling violent crime in the state.
Nwadiogbu also praised the operatives for their swift response, professionalism and dedication to protecting lives and property.
The command assured residents that it would continue to conduct intelligence-led operations to prevent criminal activities and maintain peace and security across the state.
It urged members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information and reporting suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
