The Benue State Police Command announced the successful rescue of nine kidnapped individuals.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, revealed that six suspects had been apprehended on charges of kidnapping and fraud.
Anene specified that these suspects were involved in the recent abduction of passengers from a Benue Links vehicle, an incident that tragically resulted in the driver’s death.
The statement said, “On June 13, 2024, at about 1700 hrs, information was received that, while a Benue Link vehicle was conveying passengers from Onitsha to Makurdi, gunmen suddenly emerged from a nearby forest around Ojano-Oglewu and shot sporadically at the vehicle, causing the vehicle to stop at the forest.
“The driver of the said vehicle sustained gunshot injuries that led to his death while the passengers were kidnapped.
“During the investigation, nine suspects were rescued, while on June 17, 2024, three suspects, named Saleh Hassan ‘m’, Yakubu Alhaji Kande and Yunusa Idris, all of Keana LGA, Nasarawa State, were trailed and arrested in connection with the case.
Anene further disclosed that three suspected fraudsters were apprehended at Kigh village along Naka Road on Monday. She noted that the investigation into their activities is ongoing.
“During the operation, Philip Matthew ‘m’ 25 years old, Haribu Jafai ‘m’ 27 years old, and John Ode Arubi ‘m’ 24 years old were arrested,” Anene said in the statement.
The police spokespsrson listed items recovered from the suspected fraudsters to include two iPhones, five laptops, different ATM cards and five 9mm live ammunition.
