Troops rescue 12 kidnapped travellers in Benue

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued 12 kidnapped victims who were in transit from Imo to Adamawa states.

The victims were rescued at Jootar village in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, February 23, 2024, said that the kidnappers took advantage of the abandoned Federal Police Highway checkpoint.

“In a recent operation following credible human Intelligence on the activities of kidnappers, troops of Sector 1 OPWS, on 21st February 2024, at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State, rescued 12 kidnapped victims who were on transit from Imo State to Adamawa State,” he said. 

“On sighting the aggressive troops of OPWS with superior firepower, kidnappers fled leaving behind their victims,”

General Igbinomwanhia said that an 18-seater bus belonging to Taraba Express International with Serial Number 212 and Registration Number GKA-371XA TARABA STATE was recovered from the kidnappers’ den and towed to the troops’ location.

He gave the names of the victims to include, Mr Sule Abu, age 55, Mrs Ashie Shuaibu age 26, Master Suleiman Abdullahi age 3, Mrs Zainab Salau age 35, Mr. Muritala Yussuf age 22, Mrs Zainab Saidu age 45, Mr. Hammed Mamud age 51, Mr. Usman Ali age 27, Mr. Nura Abubakar age 24, Mr. Mohammed Aliyu age 20, Mrs Felicia Asusis age 29, and Mr. Jacob Nathaniel age 22.

The force commander reiterated the troops’ continuous efforts in collaborating with other security agencies in making Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States safe from any form of criminal activities. 

He further reassured the general public that OPWS will continue to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of all patriotic citizens within the Joint Task Force Joint Operations Area.