Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued eleven people, including two serving police inspectors, from suspected kidnappers.
They were rescued during an operation by OPWS troops at the Tse-Ahur and Chito areas of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen Moses Gara disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists in Makurdi.
Gara said that two suspects were arrested during the operations and were being interrogated.
Gara said, “11 persons, including two police officers, were rescued at Tse-Ahur and Chito areas in Ukum LG during the raid, while two suspects were arrested.
“The 11 rescued kidnapped victims are four females and seven males, and they are already getting medical attention. After profiling, we will ensure they are reunited with their families.
According to Gara, the high-impact operation was carried out simultaneously at Tse-Ahur and Chito areas of Ukum Local Government of Benue, with Sector 3 providing a strategic blocking position in Gindin Mangoro, Wukari LGA of Taraba to intercept fleeing insurgents.
The OPWS commander stated that four FN rifles, three G3 rifles, four AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, one locally fabricated dane gun, fifteen AK-47 magazines, three FN rifle magazines, and thirty-one rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
Also recovered were 184 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 ammunition, one pistol magazine, five smoke discharge canisters and several fetish charms.
Gara maintained that preliminary investigation revealed that one of the arrested suspects was in charge of their armoury while the other was the victims’ security guard.
While stating that the operation was carried out between Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3, Gara said that Commander Sector 1, Col Kolawole Bukoye, led the operation and was supported by the Air Component of the OPWS targeting the Benue and neighbouring Taraba States.
The force commander explained that the operation was carried out due to unabating kidnapping in the Sankara axis of the state, which comprises Kastina-Ala, Ukum and Logo LGAs.
“So we decided to carry out the operation in the area to flush them out,” General Gara said.
The Force Commander commended the Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs for their continued support and for deploying more personnel for the operation.
He assured that troops would maintain their operational pressure, dominate the battlespace, and restore peace and security to Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States.
One of the rescued police officers, John Ngbede, attached to Numan Divisional Police Station in Adamawa Command, said he was held captive for 48 days.
“On 16th June, while I was on my way to my station between Zaki Biam and Wukari about 6:15 pm, we ran into people in military uniforms.
“They stopped us and took us to an unknown destination. Today I’m 48 days in their custody. They collected N3.5m from me, but I don’t know what they collect from others. They collected the money but refused to release me, ” he said.
Also Insp. Odah Patrick of River State Command stated that he was granted leave so as to receive medical care, only to be kidnapped on 14th July while coming through Abakariki into Benue.
He said the criminals collected N3m from him but refused to release him, adding that he spent 16 days in their custody before the OPWS intervention.
