Troops foil kidnapping attempt in Benue

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued two kidnap victims along the notorious Naka-Ahume Road in Benue State.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, the two victims were rescued during an operation.

Zubairu said the troops encountered the suspected kidnappers on Saturday, October 24, while they were attempting to abduct motorists and other road users.

The statement read in part, “The troops bumped into the suspected kidnappers, who were armed with dangerous weapons, while attempting to abduct motorists and other road users.

“The troops engaged the suspects in a firefight, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee. The troops subsequently pursued the fleeing suspects, but no further contact was made.”

Zubairu added that one of the rescued victims, identified as Mrs Mngunengen Ihom, 36, from Ahume, sustained machete wounds during the incident.

“She was evacuated to Naka General Hospital for medical attention,” the statement read.

The acting media officer said the Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, had charged troops to sustain aggressive, intelligence-led operations against armed elements threatening the safety of residents in the Joint Operations Area.

Gara urged the troops to strengthen human intelligence gathering to improve early warning and response to security threats.

He also reassured residents in the operation areas of the task force’s continued commitment to restoring peace and security.

The force commander further encouraged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.