The Edo State Police Command says it has rescued 16 passengers abducted along the Benin–Auchi highway on Friday evening.
Spokesperson of the command, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed the development in Benin, assuring that security agencies remain on the trail of the kidnappers to free the remaining victims.
The incident occurred when suspected gunmen waylaid an 18-seater bus belonging to the New Edo Line Transport Company and two other vehicles around the Sobe axis of the highway. A total of 29 passengers were forcefully taken into the forest.
Following the attack, a combined team of police operatives, soldiers, local vigilantes and hunters launched a coordinated search operation in the surrounding bushes, leading to the safe rescue of 16 victims.
CSP Yamu explained that all those rescued were unharmed, adding that efforts have been intensified to ensure the freedom of the remaining abductees and the arrest of the perpetrators.