Troops rescue 2 police officers, 9 hostages in crackdown on bandits in Benue
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued 11 kidnapped victims, including two police officers, and recovered a cache of weapons during an offensive on criminal hideouts in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. Our correspondent reports that the operation, which occurred between Saturday and Sunday, was led by Commander of Sector 1, Colonel […]
FILE PHOTO: military during an operation against banditry
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued 11 kidnapped victims, including two police officers, and recovered a cache of weapons during an offensive on criminal hideouts in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that the operation, which occurred between Saturday and Sunday, was led by Commander of Sector 1, Colonel Kolawole Bukoye, with support from the Air Component and strategic coordination by Sector 3 in Wukari LGA of neighbouring Taraba State.
OPWS Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, while briefing journalists in Makurdi on Monday, said the joint forces launched simultaneous strikes on Tse-Ahur and Chito communities, dealing a significant blow to bandit operations in the area.
He explained that troops encountered the kidnappers’ base and engaged the criminals in a gun duel, leading to the arrest of two suspects while others fled, abandoning their captives.
“Eleven hostages, including seven men and four women, were rescued during the follow-up search-and-rescue mission. They received medical attention and were profiled ahead of reuniting with their families,” Gara said.
The recovered weapons included four FN rifles, three G3 rifles, four AK-47s, one PKT machine gun, a Dane gun, 15 AK-47 magazines, 184 rounds of 7.62mm x 54mm ammunition, and various other military-grade items.
He added that troops also destroyed the criminals’ camps and logistics base in the area.
Rescued police officers recount ordeal in captivity
Speaking to journalists after their rescue, Inspector John Ngbede, attached to the Numan Divisional Police Station in Adamawa State, recounted his 48-day captivity.
“On June 16, around 6.15pm, I was travelling to my station between Zaki Biam and Wukari when we were stopped by men dressed in military uniforms. They took us to an unknown location. I spent 48 days in their custody. They extorted N3.5 million from me but still refused to release me. I don’t know how much they collected from others,” Ngbede said.
Another rescued officer, Inspector Odah Patrick of the Rivers State Command, said he was abducted on July 14 while travelling through Abakaliki into Benue while on medical leave.
“They kidnapped me and demanded N3 million, which I paid, yet they held me for 16 days,” he said, expressing relief at being freed by OPWS troops.