The Benue State Police Command has rescued eight kidnap victims. They include Rev. Fr. John Otache of the Otukpo Diocese. Two suspects have been arrested. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, issued a statement on Monday. The priest and seven others were kidnapped last Tuesday. They were returning from a village market. The abduction occurred along the Ugbokolo-Ajegbe-Awume Road, before Ipiga Village in Ohimini Local Government Area.
Kidnapping of clerics is a recurring problem in Nigeria. In 2022, gunmen abducted a Catholic priest in Kaduna. In 2023, another was taken in Edo. In 2024, similar incidents occurred in Anambra and Imo. Benue has faced repeated attacks. Herder-farmer violence has killed thousands. Banditry has added to the insecurity. Priests are targets because their families and parishes can raise ransom. The church is a source of funds. The police have rescued victims before. But the pattern continues.
Police operatives worked with the Police Mobile Force and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards. They launched a coordinated rescue operation after receiving a report. Two victims were rescued on 16 October. Six more were rescued on 18 October. The two suspects are Echefu Emmanuel and Obonyilor Emmanuel. They are assisting with the investigation. The rescued victims were taken to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital in Otukpo for medical examination and treatment. The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the operatives. He praised their prompt response and professionalism. He urged the public to provide timely information.
Winners: The eight rescued victims. The police, which demonstrated capacity. The Civil Protection Guards, which showed coordination. The families, who gain relief. Losers: The two arrested suspects, who face prosecution. The fleeing gang members, who remain at large. Kidnappers, who face pressure. The community, which remains vulnerable.
Bottom Line: Eight rescued. Two arrested. The police acted quickly. The priest is safe. The gang is not dismantled. Benue’s roads remain dangerous. The operation worked. The next one may not.