Police rescue four kidnap victims in Benue after gun battle
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Benue has rescued four kidnap victims following a gun battle with abductors along Orokam–Owukpa road in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
Sources said that on Sept. 25, a patrol team from Orokam Division received a distress call that some kidnapped persons were sighted in the forest near River Enumabia bank.
The sources said the Divisional Police Officer mobilised tactical teams for a search-and-rescue operation, which led to the successful rescue of the victims after an exchange of fire with the kidnappers.
The rescued victims were identified as Ogbonna Ifeanyi and Abubu Ogochukwu, both of Enugu Ezike, as well as Caleb Mbah, a pharmacy operator from Ohebe Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, and Ruth Chinemere, also of the same address.
According to the sources , Mbah was abducted from his pharmacy shop on Sept. 20 and taken to the kidnappers’ hideout.
On Sept. 25, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N5 million. Ogbonna and Abubu, who went to deliver the ransom, were also abducted and held alongside the other victims.
He said the police were alerted by a villager who noticed suspicious movement in the bush, leading to the operation.
The kidnappers escaped with gunshot wounds, abandoning the victims, while a manhunt had been launched in the surrounding forest to arrest the suspects.
The sources said the rescued victims were taken to Orokam General Hospital for first aid and would be reunited with their families after debriefing.
