The police command in Kogi said it rescued 12 passengers from the hands of alleged kidnappers in the state.

Commissioner of Police in the State, Edward Egbuka, made this known on Thursday, in a statement by spokesman of the State Command, SP William Ovye-Aya.

Mr Egbuka said the 12 victims were from the 16 Benue bound passenger bus, recently intercepted by alleged kidnappers along Anyigba – Ankpa road.

The CP said that following a “distressed report that a Toyota bus, with Registration Number- Benue 192 XA, driven by one Benard Ejeh conveying 16 passengers from Abuja to Benue State via ANKPA, ran into kidnappers at Ojuwo-Ajebgo village of Ofu Local Government Area, along Anyigba road.

“Without waste of time, the operatives of Quick Response Unit, stationed at Itobe, promptly swung into action, pursued the hoodlums into the bush and rescued 12 passengers including the driver while 4 other passengers are yet to be seen.”

The police chief said the incident coincided with his tour of Kogi East Senatorial Zone and this gave him the opportunity to immediately move to the scene, where he met with the rescued passengers.

According to him, he then ordered that the rescued passengers be moved to the Division for debriefing.

The CP said a tactical team had since been deployed to the area, to continue trailing the hoodlums, with a view to rescuing the 4 remaining victims.

Mr Egbuka, however, decried the false report on social media that over 15 Passengers are missing as a result of the incident.

“The Command wishes to unequivocally state that the report is not only false, malicious and highly mischievous but the figment of the imagination of the author, ” the CP said.

The police boss urged members of the public and the media, particularly social media handlers, to always verify facts of incidents from the Police before publishing them in order to guard against misinformation.

NAN