Kidnapping: 17 arrested, 19 rescued in Benue raid

A combined team of troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke, 72 Special Forces Battalion, 93 Battalion and Mobile Police men have rescued 19 persons out of 23 kidnapped by a notorious criminal group linked to the late militia leader Gana.

The security equally arrested 17 persons in connection with the kidnap.

The 23 persons were said to have been rescued by the security when they raided three communities, including Ajon, Igbudu and Tor Donga all in Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue state.

The victims, who are all indigenes of Taraba state were kidnapped on 27 January 2021 by bandits on the Wukari -Takum road.

Briefing journalists Monday in Makurdi, the Security Adviser to the Benue state governor, Lt Col Paul Hemba (rtd), said the security team was still in search of the remaining 4 victims still in captivity of the criminals.

He said the action of the criminal elements may have been targeted at triggering inter-communal crisis between the Tiv and Jukun tribes in that axis, so that they could have respite from the pressure on them from the security forces.

Hemba noted that the arrested suspects were being profiled by the DSS at 93 Battalion in Takum local government area of Taraba state.

He said the Benue state government was committed to ensuring that the Sankera area of the state was rid of criminals.

The security adviser said Governor Samuel Ortom had severally said he would not surrender the state to criminals, adding that there was no hiding place for criminals in the state.

Leave a Reply