Thirteen out of 14 passengers who were abducted by bandits on Thursday, April 3, at Ikobi community, near Otukpo Burnt bricks, Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State at about 8:30p.m, were rescued by operatives of Benue State Police Command.
A gang of armed men had ambushed and attacked a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Benue Links Transport Company, killing the driver and a passenger, while 14 other occupants of the vehicle were abducted.
Thenewsbearer learnt that the bus was conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo when, on reaching Otukpo Burnt Bricks area, kidnappers shot sporadically at the driver and the passenger at the front seat, causing the driver to stop on the high way.
It was further gathered that the gunmen left a three-year-old boy at the scene of the incident, while one of the passengers, a female, managed to escape.
The Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the rescue of the victims, said that on receipt of the report, the police, in collaboration with members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, swiftly moved to the scene and found the driver and one passenger who sustained gunshot injuries in the vehicle, while others were whisked away by the kidnappers.
The PPRO said that injured victims were conveyed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead by a doctor.
Anene stated further that the operatives launched a search for the kidnapped victims within the nearby forest immediately, and on Friday, April 4, at about 3p.m., they sighted the bandits in the forest and engaged them in a gun duel.
“The superior firepower of the police subdued them and they took to their heels abandoning their captives.
“Unfortunately, they had inflicted machete cuts on two of the victims before the rescue.
“Fourteen victims were rescued and taken to the hospital where one of them was confirmed dead.
“Others are currently receiving treatment,” the Command’s spokeswoman said.
Condoling the families of the three victims, the Commissioner of Police, Steve H. Yabanet, pledged his commitment to bringing perpetrators to book.
The Commissioner of Police enjoined the people of Otukpo to look out for suspects with gunshot injuries and report to the police, disclosing that many of the bandits received gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire with police operatives.
In a statement made available in Makurdi, the spokesman of Benue Links, Johnson Daniel, confirmed the tragic attack on one of the company buses.
He gave the name of the deceased driver of the 18-seater bus as Mr. Samuel Agege.
He stated further that the management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited had sent condolence messages to the families of the deceased.
