Police rescue nine kidnapped victims along Benin–Lagos expressway

The Nigeria Police Force has rescued nine kidnapped victims, including passengers from a GUO bus, along the Benin–Lagos expressway.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement released on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem.

The rescue follows recent attacks along the busy highway, including a reported assault on a GUO Transport bus.

The Command said the victims were recovered through coordinated tactical operations, intelligence gathering, and aerial surveillance.

The Edo State Police Command said the rescue operation was made possible through the coordinated deployment of security resources across the affected corridor.

The Command confirmed that victims were rescued in separate operations, including from a forest in Imiegba, Agenebode.

It added that all rescued persons have undergone medical checks and have been reunited with their families.

The police further stated that security presence has been reinforced along the Benin–Lagos expressway and surrounding communities, while efforts continue to apprehend the perpetrators.

The Benin–Lagos expressway has recently witnessed a rise in violent attacks, including a reported kidnapping incident involving a GUO Transport bus along the Okada–Benin route.

The latest police operation now confirms that nine kidnapped victims, including passengers linked to the GUO abduction incident, have been rescued across coordinated operations along the expressway and forested areas in Edo State.

Nigeria continues to face a deepening insecurity challenge, particularly around mass abductions and attacks on schools, highways, and rural communities.

The Federal Government also recently escalated its response by designating kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, giving security agencies expanded powers to dismantle criminal networks behind abductions and rural attacks.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in police recruitment from 30,000 to 50,000 officers, a move aimed at strengthening internal security amid rising nationwide threats.