The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 11 out of the 18 passengers abducted by unknown gunmen along the Benin–Akure Highway.
The kidnapping occurred on Friday, December 12, near Obarenren village in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. The victims were travelling in a vehicle owned by a well-known commercial transport operator when the assailants struck.
Confirming the rescue, Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eno Ikoedem told Channels Television via phone that operations are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining passengers.
The police stated that the vehicle was ambushed at gunpoint, with all occupants forcibly taken by the suspected kidnappers.
Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Command in the area promptly launched a rescue mission in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local vigilantes, and hunters. Security personnel combed nearby bushes in search of both the abductors and the passengers.
The operation led to the rescue of 11 passengers on Sunday. The rescued individuals have been reunited with their families, while efforts continue to recover the remaining seven victims.
The Edo State Police Command assured residents that security will be intensified across the state, especially as the yuletide season approaches, emphasizing that Edo State will not be a safe haven for criminals.