Police rescue Benue Catholic priest, seven others, arrest two

The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight kidnap victims, including a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. John Otache of the Otukpo Diocese, and arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Makurdi.

According to the statement, the priest and seven other victims were kidnapped last Tuesday while returning from a village market along the Ugbokolo–Ajegbe–Awume Road, before Ipiga Village in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

Aondongu said police operatives, working with personnel of the Police Mobile Force and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, launched a coordinated rescue operation after receiving a report of the abduction.

The statement read in part, “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 October 16, 2026, and six on October 18, 2026.”

The police spokesperson said two suspects, identified as Echefu Emmanuel and Obonyilor Emmanuel, were arrested during the rescue operations.

He added that the rescued victims had been taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for medical examinations and necessary treatment.

According to him, the arrested suspects were assisting the police with the ongoing investigation, while efforts had been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the suspected criminal gang.

He said the command was determined to ensure that all those involved in the abduction were brought to justice.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force for their support in the fight against violent crime in the state.

Nwadiogbu also praised the operatives for their prompt response, professionalism and commitment to protecting lives and property.

The command reassured residents of its determination to sustain intelligence-led operations and prevent criminal elements from threatening peace and security in the state.

It urged members of the public to support security operations by providing timely and credible information and promptly reporting suspicious movements and activities to the nearest police station.