The Benue State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued a victim unhurt along the Tiortu area of the state.
The incident occurred at about 3:00am on Thursday, December 25, 2025, when the victim, identified as Akume Geoffrey, was travelling from Gboko to Makurdi.
According to the spokesperson of the command, DSP Udeme Edet, the victim was intercepted by armed men suspected to be kidnappers, who forcefully abducted him and attempted to take him into a nearby forest.
Edet said police operatives swiftly mobilised after receiving a distress alert and launched intensive patrols and a coordinated search of the area.
“On sighting the police patrol team and hearing sirens, the suspects abandoned the victim and fled into the forest,” the police spokesperson said.
She added that the victim was rescued unhurt and taken to Abinse Police Station, where he was debriefed by the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari.
The spokesperson said the rescued victim was later reunited with his family, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, has commended the operatives for their swift response and professionalism. According to Edet, the police commissioner reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, particularly during the festive period.
She said Emenari disclosed that patrols, stop-and-search operations, and intelligence-led policing have been intensified across strategic locations in the state, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
