Sixteen passengers who were kidnapped by gunmen along the Benin–Iyere Agbanikaka Oluku Road in Edo State have been rescued by security operatives.

The abduction occurred on Friday, September 5, around 4:30 p.m., when armed men attacked a commercial bus and whisked away its passengers.

A video showing stranded commuters in panic shortly after the incident surfaced online this morning, sparking widespread concern.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, said rescue operations began immediately after the attack.

“Sixteen of the victims have been rescued so far, as search and rescue operations by @EdoPoliceNG continue,” Yamu wrote on his official X handle.

The police assured residents that efforts are still ongoing to track down the perpetrators and ensure the safety of all road users.