Three suspects arrested as Ugbokolo youths rescue abducted travellers

Vigilant youths in Ugbokolo community, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, have thwarted an attempted kidnapping along the Ugbokolo–Aokpe road, rescuing several victims and apprehending three suspects.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night when armed men abducted a number of travellers along the route. In response, local youths mobilised and launched a search operation that led to the rescue of five victims and the arrest of three individuals suspected to be linked to the crime.

A resident of the community, who identified himself simply as Ada, told journalists during a telephone interview that the youths acted swiftly after learning about the abduction.

Adah said, “Several persons were abducted by armed men on the road on Wednesday night, a development which prompted local youths to mobilise and launched a search operation in the area.

“The youths however tracked down the suspects, leading to the rescue of five victims and the arrest of three of the alleged kidnappers while one escaped.”

The rescued victims were later reunited with their families, while the three suspects were handed over to security agencies for further investigation.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, Adah Inalegwu, said some kidnapped victims were successfully rescued after community youths pursued the suspected abductors.

Inalegwu said, “It’s true that some people were kidnapped yesterday (Wednesday night) on Aokpe road, and our vigilant youths quickly mobilised themselves and went after the kidnappers.

“When the heat was too much on the kidnappers they abandoned their victims and ran away, and the victims were successfully rescued yesterday (Wednesday) night.

“Today (Thursday) the community also saw three strangers and they presumed they were kidnappers but we are yet to get the full story whether they are Kidnappers or not.”

He added that authorities were still working to determine whether the arrested individuals were directly involved in the kidnapping.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had not received any report of the incident as of the time this report was filed.