By Damilare Adeleye
Troops of the Nigerian Army, Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have successfully apprehended 12 suspected kidnappers and recovered 14 motorcycles, a locally fabricated pistol, and two bags of Indian hemp in recent operations in Taraba State.
According to a statement issued by the Army, the troops demonstrated resilience and swift response to ensure public safety during the operation.
The statement reads: “Following a distress call from residents of Chachanji village regarding the abduction of two individuals by a group of about 10 armed men on motorcycles on 7 November 2024, troops launched a rapid response operation aimed at rescuing the victims and intercepting the kidnappers.
“Upon making contact with the armed group, the superior firepower of the troops forced the kidnappers to retreat deep into the bush, abandoning their locally fabricated pistol and two bags of Indian hemp.
“The troops’ thorough search of the area prevented further criminal activity and disrupted the kidnappers’ operations.“In a subsequent follow-up operation based on credible intelligence, troops on 9 November 2024 arrested 12 suspects and seized 14 motorcycles at a local drinking joint in Mbhakyir village near Agu Center.
“During an intensive investigation, the arrested suspects admitted their involvement in the kidnapping operation and identified their leader as Veior John Gata, a notorious terrorist on the wanted list of security agencies for orchestrating criminal activities in parts of Southern Taraba and Benue states.
“The suspects further revealed that Veior was with them at Agu Centre on 5 November 2024 before the killing of two locals and the abduction of two individuals on 6 and 7 November, respectively, in the Chachanji area.
“They added that Veior held a grudge against the locals in Chachanji and sought to close down the market by instilling fear and terror in buyers and sellers alike.”
The 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army commended residents for their cooperation and urged them to continue providing timely and credible information to aid security operations.
“Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies,” the statement concluded.