The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of nine kidnapped victims from two separate incidents across the state, including passengers abducted from a GUO Transport bus along the Benin–Lagos Expressway.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, disclosed that five victims were rescued following the recent attack on a commercial bus along the busy highway, while four others regained freedom from captivity in the Imiegba forest in Agenebode, Edo North.

According to the statement, the successful rescue of the five bus passengers was made possible through the swift deployment of tactical teams and intelligence resources ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika.

“The Edo State Police Command is pleased to inform the general public that all five victims abducted during the recent kidnapping incident along the Benin–Lagos Expressway have been successfully rescued alive,” the statement read.

The police added that coordinated bush-combing operations, aerial surveillance, and sustained pressure on the kidnappers led to the victims’ release.

 

The rescued individuals have since received medical attention and have been reunited with their families.

Similarly, four other victims abducted earlier in the month were freed from captivity in the Imiegba forest.

 

Authorities confirmed that they are also safe and have undergone medical evaluation.

The Command assured residents and road users that security presence along the Benin–Lagos Expressway and surrounding communities has been significantly reinforced, with tactical and intelligence operations fully activated to prevent further attacks.

Police authorities further stated that efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the perpetrators, expressing confidence that those responsible will soon be brought to justice.

The rescue operation follows an earlier reported attack in which gunmen opened fire on a bus travelling from Lagos to the eastern part of the country, killing the driver and abducting several passengers. 

A viral video from the scene showed the aftermath, with eyewitness accounts alleging that the victims were forcefully taken into the bush.