The Benue State Community Vigilante Group (BSCVG), on Tuesday, successfully rescued kidnapped victims in the Orokam community, situated in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State. This comes in response to the abduction of over 35 passengers from three commercial vehicles by unidentified gunmen on the Otukpo-Enugu Road in Orokam on the preceding Sunday.
The joint efforts of the BSCVG, Army, police, the general public, and intelligence gathering played a crucial role in the effective operation, as revealed in a statement by Comr. Austin Enejor, the Ogbadibo Commander of the vigilante group. He explained that the successful rescue operation was initiated following a distress call received on Monday, reporting rampant kidnappings along the Orokam-Ubolo road, with 45 persons abducted at approximately 9:30 pm. The accomplishment of the mission was met with enthusiastic celebrations among the community members, neighboring areas, and the families of the freed victims.
“However, while I was on patrol with my men we ran into some people that were released by the kidnappers, about 36 of them both males and females.
“I approached them and some of them shared their experience with me about what they went through in the hands of the kidnappers.
“The next day being today 16/1/2024, I mobilized both the police and army, we went into the forest and to the glory of God, we engaged them in a fierce gun battle and we succeeded in bringing some of them down and also recovered an AK-47 machine gun rifle and other items from them.
“In the process of engaging them, one of my officers was shot and seriously wounded, he is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
“We want to urge members of the public to carry out their legitimate businesses and report every suspicious elements within their communities,” he said.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Benue State Police Command spokesperson in Makurdi failed.
