May 23 (THEWILL) — The Edo State Police Command says it has rescued all 13 passengers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Benin-Lagos Expressway, following a coordinated operation involving aerial surveillance, drones, intelligence gathering and sustained bush-combing tactics.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Benin City, stating that the victims were rescued in phases after operatives tracked the kidnappers into the bush.
According to the statement, the passengers were abducted on May 9 at Ogua Community along the Benin-Lagos road when armed hoodlums attacked a commercial bus belonging to Young Shall Grow Motors, travelling from Akwa Ibom State to Lagos.
Ikoedem said a female passenger sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, which caused panic among travellers on the busy highway.
She explained that the command immediately launched coordinated rescue and bush-combing operations after the incident, leading to the initial rescue of five passengers, including two adults and three children.
“Following the incident, the command immediately launched coordinated rescue and bush combing operations, rescuing five passengers comprising two adults and three children, and has remained on the trail of the kidnappers”, she stated.
The police spokesperson further revealed that operatives intensified the operation through intelligence-driven policing and advanced technological support, including drones and aerial surveillance.
According to her, security operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel on May 10, resulting in the rescue of two additional victims.
“Through the deployment of drones, aerial surveillance, intelligence-driven policing and sustained technological support, operatives of the command engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel and successfully rescued two additional passengers”, she added.
Ikoedem disclosed that the remaining six abducted passengers had now been rescued unhurt, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 13.
She quoted the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, as commending the courage, professionalism and resilience displayed by the operatives involved in the rescue mission.
The commissioner also reassured residents and road users that the command remained committed to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
“The command is not relenting in its efforts as intensive bush combing operations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of this crime”, Agbonika said.
The latest rescue operation comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity and rising incidents of abduction along major highways across the country, particularly the Benin-Lagos corridor, which has witnessed several attacks in recent months.
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