Troops Rescue 12 Kidnapped Travellers In Benue

Twelve passengers who were taken hostage in Benue State while traveling from Imo to Adamawa State have been freed by Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) troops.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Makurdi, Force Commander Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia said that the troops under his command kept up their ferocious campaign against bandits, terrorists, and other criminals in the states of Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba.

According to him, on February 21, 2024, at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State, troops of Sector 1 OPWS successfully freed 12 abducted victims who were being transported from Imo State to Adamawa State.

Igbinomwanhia claimed that the criminals used the abandoned Federal Police Highway checkpoint to carry out their illegal crime. He added that the kidnappers fled after spotting the OPWS troops’ aggressiveness and superior firepower, leaving their victims behind.

“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.

“The rescued victims are: Mr Sule Abu, 55; Mrs Ashie Shuaibu, 26; Master Suleiman Abdullahi, 3; Mrs Zainab Salau, 35; Mr. Muritala Yussuf, 22; Mrs Zainab Saidu, 45; Mr. Hammed Mamud, 51; Mr. Usman Ali, 27; Mr. Nura Abubakar, 24, Mr. Mohammed Aliyu, 20; Mrs Felicia Asusis, 29; and Mr. Jacob Nathaniel, 22,” he stated. [CONTINUE READING HERE]