The Benue State Police Command has arrested 20 suspects, rescued 18 kidnapped victims and recovered three AK-47 rifles, 33 rounds of ammunition and other weapons in recent operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Makurdi.
He said the operations also led to the recovery of two motorcycles, a Toyota Corolla and locally fabricated firearms, while three suspected armed criminals were neutralised.
Nwadiogbu said 13 of the rescued victims were abducted along the Otukpo-Adoka Road on August 14. A tactical operation in the Amla-Icho Forest on August 16 led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and ammunition and the neutralisation of one suspect. Continued pressure on the kidnappers subsequently resulted in the victims’ rescue.
The operation followed another attack on August 13, when an 18-seater bus travelling from Enugu to Abuja was intercepted around the Ankpechi-Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area. Five passengers were initially rescued, with the remaining 13 recovered in subsequent operations.
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In Logo Local Government Area, police operations around Tse-Udi and Ayilamo on August 11 resulted in the neutralisation of two suspected bandits and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and ammunition.
Nwadiogbu said officers also responded to reports of armed men allegedly attacking farmers and destroying crops around Ayilamo on August 26.
At Ayati village, Gwer-East Local Government Area, police foiled an alleged robbery on August 9, with fleeing suspects abandoning a locally fabricated revolver and live cartridges.
The commissioner said five suspects allegedly linked to a vehicle and motorcycle theft syndicate were also arrested. Investigations led detectives from Gboko to Dan-Anacha in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, where two Bajaj motorcycles and a Toyota Corolla were recovered.
Nwadiogbu warned against illegal firearms possession and trafficking, urging residents to provide credible information on suspicious persons and activities.
He said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies to disrupt criminal activities across Benue.