The victims were reportedly rescued on Sunday evening, October 18, 2026, following an operation by security personnel, according to the police.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Aondogu Orchia, disclosed the development to journalists in Makurdi on Sunday, confirming that the rescued victims had been taken to the Otukpo Teaching Hospital for medical examinations.
Orchia said the victims were receiving medical attention to assess their condition following their ordeal in captivity.
The rescue comes days after the abduction of Otache, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, who was reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday, October 13, along the Otobi-Amejo-Ajegbe road in Benue State.
The circumstances surrounding the abduction of the priest and the five other victims were not immediately clear in the information made available by the police.
The incident had raised concerns among residents and members of the Catholic community, particularly over the safety of travellers and other road users in the area.
The successful rescue of the six victims is expected to bring relief to their families, friends and associates, who had been concerned about their whereabouts and safety since the reported abduction.
However, the police had yet to provide detailed information about the operation, including whether any suspects were arrested or whether the abductors escaped during the rescue.
The command also did not immediately disclose whether a ransom had been demanded or paid in connection with the incident.
Kidnapping remains a major security concern in parts of Nigeria, with travellers, religious leaders and residents in some communities facing the risk of abduction by armed criminal groups.
The latest incident has again drawn attention to security challenges in Benue State and the need for sustained efforts to protect residents and road users.
The police are expected to provide further details as more information becomes available.
For now, the immediate priority is the medical assessment and recovery of the rescued priest and the five other victims following their release from captivity.
