A k!dnapping attempt was thwarted by the Benue State Police Command, and the victim was saved unharmed. 

The incident happened around three in the morning on Thursday, December 25, 2025, along the Tiortu area of the state, according to Command Spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet. The victim, Akume Geoffrey, was traveling from Gboko to Makurdi.

According to Edet, the victim was allegedly intercepted by armed men who were thought to be k!d.nappers. They k!dna.pped him violently and tried to take him into a nearby forest.

However, after receiving a distress alert, police officers quickly mobilized, began intensive patrols, and conducted a coordinated search of the area.

“On sighting the police patrol team and hearing sirens, the suspects abandoned the victim and fled into the forest,” the PPRO said. 

“The victim was rescued unhurt and taken to Abinse Police Station, where he was debriefed by the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari.” 

She added that the rescued victim was later reunited with his family while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Enemari, has commended the operatives for their swift response and professionalism.

Emenari, according to the police spokesperson, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, particularly during the festive period.

He added that patrols, stop-and-search operations and intelligence-led policing have been intensified across strategic locations in the state, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.