From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke foiled a kidnap attempt along Otukpo-Enugu Expressway in Benue State, rescuing several passengers and forcing the assailants to flee.
Acting Media Information Officer of the command, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, who disclosed this yesterday in Makurdi in a statement, said the development was made possible in prompt response to a distress call.
He said on getting the information, troops on routine patrol mobilised swiftly to Amoda axis in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State and encountered the armed criminals, who had emerged from the bush and briefly occupied an existing checkpoint.
According to the statement, the assailants subsequently stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State, and attempted to abduct all passengers, adding that luck however, ran out of their way with the timely intervention of troops, a development that led to a firefight that compelled the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee into the bush.
He revealed that in the initial encounter, 15 passengers were rescued and handed over to the Nigerian Police Division, Otukpo, while six adults and four minors were declared missing.
He said subsequent operations led to the rescue of additional five adults and all four minors now in custody of the Police Area Command, Otukpo, with search efforts ongoing to locate the remaining missing passenger.
The Force Commander, Major-General Moses Gara commended the troops for their prompt response and professionalism.
While wishing Christians a peaceful festivities, General Gara reaffirmed the task force’s unwavering commitment to safeguard lives and property within its area of responsibility, stressing that sustained offensive operations, intelligence-led patrols and coordinated engagements with sister security agencies would continue to deny criminal elements freedom of action.
