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.
What they are saying
The Edo State Police Command said the rescue operation was made possible through the coordinated deployment of security resources across the affected corridor.
- “@EdoPoliceNG is pleased to inform the general public that all victims abducted during the recent kidnapping incident along the Benin–Lagos Expressway have been successfully rescued alive.”
- “This breakthrough was achieved following the immediate and massive deployment of tactical teams, intelligence assets, aerial surveillance, and other operational resources by the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, to 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.
Get up to speed
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 attack generated public concern after reports and videos circulated online showing a damaged vehicle and claims of abduction.
- GUO Transport later clarified that the vehicle involved was an empty bus travelling from Lagos when it was attacked. The company confirmed that its driver was killed during the incident and described the attack as a painful loss, while calling for improved security along the highway.
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.
What you should know
Nigeria continues to face a deepening insecurity challenge, particularly around mass abductions and attacks on schools, highways, and rural communities.
- Save the Children International says 1,683 learners were abducted in Nigeria between 2014 and 2022.
- The figure was disclosed by Mogbonjubade Adesulure of Save the Children Nigeria during the 2026 International Day of Education event in Katsina. The organisation linked the trend to insecurity and weak investment in the education sector.
- In a related development, a report by SBM Intelligence estimated that kidnap-for-ransom networks generated at least N2.57 billion between July 2024 and June 2025, with ransom demands reaching about N48 billion within the period.
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.
