Security forces in Edo State are engaged in a fierce manhunt after armed men kidnapped eighteen passengers traveling along the busy Benin-Akure highway. The violent incident, which has sent shockwaves through the region, occurred last Saturday near Obarenren village in the Ovia North East Local Government Area.
Details of the Highway Ambush
The victims were traveling in an 18-seater Big Joe bus when their journey was brutally interrupted. According to official reports, the kidnappers emerged and began firing shots sporadically into the air, a terrifying tactic used to instill fear and force compliance. Under the hail of gunfire, the assailants successfully herded all eighteen passengers from the vehicle and took them into the dense surrounding bush.
The Edo State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the distressing event in Benin on Monday. Ikoedem stated that the command immediately launched a coordinated response upon receiving the report.
Massive Bush Combing Leads to Partial Rescue
In a significant development, a joint security operation involving the police and the Nigerian Army has yielded results. The teams initiated a massive bush combing exercise across the area in a determined bid to locate the captives.
"Our relentless efforts have led to the rescue of eleven victims so far," stated PPRO Ikoedem. He emphasized that operations are continuing with full intensity to ensure the remaining seven abducted passengers are found and brought to safety. The police spokesperson confirmed that no arrests have been made yet, but the pursuit of the kidnappers is active and ongoing.
Separate Case: Child Trafficking Syndicate Arraigned in Niger
In a related development highlighting the scourge of human-related crimes, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Niger State Police Command has prosecuted eight suspected members of a child-trafficking ring. The suspects were arraigned before the Minna Chief Magistrate Court I on a litany of serious charges.
The group, led by operatives under DSP Ahmed Sa'idu, was arrested in Nasarawa State while allegedly in possession of children stolen from various parts of Niger State. The police prosecutor, Inspector Aliyu Yakub Kuta, presented the case marked MMC/CMC/74/25 to the court.
The suspects, identified as residents of Nyanya in the FCT and parts of Nasarawa State, face eight counts including:
- Criminal conspiracy and kidnapping
- Dealing in the sale of human beings and child stealing
- Trafficking in persons and indecent treatment of children
- Wrongful confinement
According to the First Information Report, one of the suspects, Victoria Ebunoha, was arrested on November 5, 2025, at Dikko Junction with three male children. During interrogation, she confessed to stealing the children from Lambata in Niger State and was allegedly en route to Nyanya to sell them. Further investigations revealed her involvement in stealing at least seven other children from the Lambata and Sabon Wuse areas.
The charges are punishable under Sections 60(2)(a)(1), 211, 238, and 239 of the Niger State Penal Code Law. This case underscores the persistent and evolving threats to safety and human dignity on Nigerian roads and communities, calling for sustained and robust security interventions.
