Edo State police in Nigeria freed 13 kidnapped passengers from an abductor’s hideout following a night rescue operation on the Benin-Lagos Expressway, one of the country’s busiest commercial road corridors.
Authorities said intelligence led tactical units to the location where victims were held after being seized during transit. Officers secured the release without publicizing detailed tactics that could compromise future raids against gangs targeting highway travelers.
Kidnapping for ransom has plagued highway travel in parts of southern Nigeria, prompting convoy escorts and checkpoint expansions. Survivors received medical checks before reuniting with families, according to police statements summarized in local reporting on the rescue.
The Benin-Lagos route connects major commercial hubs, making it a frequent target for criminal gangs seeking quick payouts from frightened travelers and logistics workers moving goods between southwestern cities.
Edo officials praised the rescue as evidence of improved inter-agency cooperation while acknowledging that long-term security requires prosecutions and community intelligence networks beyond single-night operations along the expressway.
Police in Edo State said 13 abducted passengers were recovered from a hideout after the night operation along the Benin-Lagos Expressway, where kidnappers had held them following a highway abduction.
The rescue underscored persistent security concerns on a corridor linking major commercial hubs in southern Nigeria where kidnapping for ransom has targeted travelers and logistics workers.
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Sources:
News Headlines May 24, 2026. Headlines From Nigeria’s Major Newspapers