The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of nine kidnapped victims from separate abduction incidents across the state, including passengers from a GUO bus attack along the Benin–Lagos Expressway.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, the police said the victims were rescued through coordinated tactical operations involving intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, and sustained bush-combing efforts.
According to the statement, the first operation led to the rescue of five passengers who were abducted during an attack on a commercial bus along the busy Benin–Lagos corridor.
“The Edo State Police Command is pleased to inform the general public that all five victims abducted during the recent kidnapping incident along the Benin–Lagos Expressway have been successfully rescued alive,” the statement read.
The police explained that the rescue followed a swift deployment ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who directed tactical teams to intensify operations in the affected areas.
“The immediate and massive deployment of tactical teams, intelligence assets, aerial surveillance, and other operational resources led to the successful rescue of the victims,” the command added.
Authorities said sustained pressure on the kidnappers forced them to abandon the victims, who were later found and taken to medical facilities for evaluation before being reunited with their families.
In a separate operation, the police also confirmed the rescue of four other victims who were abducted earlier in the month and held captive in the Imiegba forest in the Agenebode area of the state.
“They have likewise received medical attention and are safe, making a total of nine kidnapped victims rescued,” the statement noted.
The command assured residents that security presence along the Benin–Lagos Expressway and surrounding communities had been reinforced to prevent further attacks.
“We are strengthening deployments across the axis and activating all tactical and intelligence resources to ensure the safety of road users and residents,” the police spokesperson said.
The police also vowed to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the perpetrators behind the kidnappings.
“We are confident that all those involved will be tracked down and brought to justice in the shortest possible time,” the statement added.
