Security operatives belonging to the Edo State Police Command have successfully secured the release of an abducted tanker driver known as Usman Abubakar within the state.
The victim was reportedly kidnapped along the Benin-Lagos Road by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on October 31, 2026.
It was gathered that the victim and his motor boy were heading from Lagos towards Kano State when some armed men emerged from the bush at Ugbogun, along the expressway, and intercepted the vehicle.
The gunmen reportedly kidnapped the driver and whisked him into the bush, while his motor boy, identified as Imran Sokoto, escaped.
The Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the victim had been rescued by the police.
She said the police received information that a tanker driver had been kidnapped by gunmen along the Benin-Lagos Highway and whisked into the bush.
Ikoedem said the police mobilised a security team to Morgan Forest for a bush combing operation aimed at rescuing the victim.
She said the hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire on them, prompting the officers to respond and in the process, the suspects fled into the bush with bullet wounds, abandoning their captive.
She added that the victim was rescued unhurt and continued his journey.
What You Should Know
Security operatives in Edo State successfully rescued a tanker driver, Usman Abubakar, who was abducted by gunmen along the dangerous Benin-Lagos highway after a gun duel that forced the criminals to flee into the forest.
- Positive Impact: The swift response by the police highlights improved bush-combing strategies and offers reassurance to long-distance drivers and commuters traversing the Benin-Lagos corridor.
- Potential Concerns: The incident underscores the persistent threat of highway banditry and kidnapping along major interstate routes, highlighting the ongoing security risks faced by commercial drivers and transporters in the region.
