By Ado Oyeyemi
Residents of Ugbokolo in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly rescued several kidnapped persons and apprehended three suspected abductors following a community-led operation.
The victims were said to have been kidnapped on Tuesday along the Ugbokolo–Aokpe Road, a major route used by residents and commuters within the area.
Sources in the community disclosed that shortly after news of the abduction spread, local youths mobilised and launched a search-and-rescue mission aimed at locating the victims and their captors.
The operation reportedly yielded positive results as the abducted persons were rescued and three suspects believed to be connected to the crime were taken into custody.
A family member of one of the rescued victims alleged that the arrested suspects were of Fulani extraction. However, authorities have yet to verify the claim.
The identities of both the rescued victims and the suspects had not been made public as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent security challenges confronting residents in parts of Benue State, particularly along rural roads that have become vulnerable to criminal activities.
It also reflects the growing role of local communities in supporting security efforts amid concerns over kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
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Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, were not responded to before press time.
