By Ade Oyeyemi
The Benue State Police Command has rescued a Catholic priest and seven other victims abducted by gunmen along a road in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.
The rescued cleric was identified as Rev. Fr. John Otache of the Otukpo Catholic Diocese.
The command’s spokesperson, Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Makurdi, adding that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
According to the police, the victims were kidnapped last Tuesday while returning from a village market along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road, shortly before Ipiga Village in Ohimini LGA.
Aondongu said security operatives launched a coordinated rescue operation after receiving information about the abduction.
He explained that police personnel worked alongside officers of the Police Mobile Force and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards to locate and rescue the victims.
The statement partly read, “Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the Command, in conjunction with personnel of the Police Mobile Force and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, were immediately mobilised to the area and launched a coordinated rescue operation.
“The operation led to the successful rescue of eight victims, with two rescued on 16th October 2026 and six on 18th October 2026.
“In the course of the rescue operations, two suspects, identified as Echefu Emmanuel and Obonyilor Emmanuel, were arrested.”
The police spokesperson said the rescued victims had been taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for medical examinations and necessary treatment.
He added that the two arrested suspects were assisting investigators, while security operatives intensified efforts to track down other members of the suspected kidnapping gang who remained at large.
Aondongu said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadiogbu, appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force for their support in tackling violent crime in the state.
The commissioner also commended the operatives involved in the operation for their prompt response and professionalism, according to the statement.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at protecting lives and property and preventing criminal groups from threatening public safety.
It also urged residents to provide the police with timely and credible information that could assist ongoing investigations and security operations.
