Police rescue nine kidnapped victims in Benue

Nine kidnapped victims have been rescued by police in Benue State.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, Catherine Anene, who stated this in a statement on Wednesday, said that six suspects were also arrested for kidnapping and fraud.

PPRO said in the statement that the suspected kidnappers were responsible for the kidnapping of some passengers in a Benue Links vehicle after killing the driver a few days ago.

According to the statement, “On June 13, 2024, at about 1700 hrs, information was received that, while a Benue Link vehicle was conveying passengers from Onitsha to Makurdi, gunmen suddenly emerged from a nearby forest around Ojano-Oglewu and shot sporadically at the vehicle, causing the vehicle to stop at the forest.

“The driver of the said vehicle sustained gunshot injuries that led to his death while the passengers were kidnapped.

“During the investigation, nine suspects were rescued, while on June 17, 2024, three suspects, named Saleh Hassan ‘m’, Yakubu Alhaji Kande and Yunusa Idris, all of Keana LGA, Nasarawa State, were trailed and arrested in connection with the case.

Anene also said that the three suspected fraudsters were arrested at Kigh village along Naka Road on Monday, and investigation is ongoing.

“During the operation, Philip Matthew ‘m’ 25 years old, Haribu Jafai ‘m’ 27 years old, and John Ode Arubi ‘m’ 24 years old were arrested,” Anene said in the statement.

Items recovered from the suspected fraudsters include two iPhones, five laptops, different ATM cards and five 9mm live ammunition.

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