…“On sighting the police and hearing sirens, the kidnappers abandoned the victim and fled into the forest.
BENUE, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Benue State Police Command successfully thwarted a Christmas Day kidnap attempt, rescuing Geoffrey Akume unharmed.
DSP Udeme Edet, the command’s spokesperson, disclosed the incident in a statement released on Thursday in Makurdi. According to her, the attack occurred in the early hours at Tiortu, along Gboko–Makurdi Road.
Edet explained that Akume, who was traveling from Gboko to Makurdi, was intercepted by armed men suspected to be kidnappers. The assailants forcefully abducted him and attempted to take him deeper into a nearby forest.
“Upon receiving the distress call, Benue State command immediately launched intensive patrols and a coordinated search of the area,” Edet said. “On sighting the police and hearing sirens, the kidnappers abandoned the victim and fled into the forest. The patrol team successfully rescued him, unhurt, with no ransom paid.”
The victim was taken to Abinse command, where he was debriefed by the Benue State Commissioner of Police before being reunited with his family.
Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari commended the operatives for their swift, professional, and courageous response. He reassured residents of the Command’s continued commitment to protecting lives and property, especially during the festive season.
Emenari added that patrols, stop-and-search operations, and intelligence-led policing have been intensified at strategic locations across the state. He urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through approved emergency channels.
Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
