Troops kill suspected bandit, arrest two kidnappers in Benue

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, have killed a suspected bandit and arrested two suspected kidnappers during separate operations in Benue State.

The acting Media Information Officer of the task force, Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

Zubairu said troops, acting on credible intelligence, moved against suspected kidnappers who were operating an illegal checkpoint along the Jortar-Atume axis on August 19.

According to him, the troops engaged the criminals in a gun battle, killing one of the suspected bandits identified by the nickname “Cool Nigga”.

“On arrival, the troops made contact with the criminals, resulting in a firefight during which one suspected bandit, identified by the nickname ‘Cool Nigga’, was neutralised,” he said.

The other members of the group reportedly fled the scene, abandoning a motorcycle which was recovered by the troops.

In another operation carried out the same day in Logo Local Government Area, soldiers arrested two suspected kidnappers at Gou Village.

The suspects were identified as 44-year-old Terhile Iyo and 32-year-old Vershima Emmanuel.

The task force said the suspects allegedly confessed to planning the abduction of a resident of Gou Village, Balame Nyikwagh.

Items recovered from them included a locally manufactured pistol, one cartridge, five Tecno torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, several SIM cards and charms.

The two suspects have been kept in military custody as investigations continue.

The latest operations come amid a rise in attacks and kidnapping incidents across Benue State.

On August 20, the Benue State Police Command announced the rescue of 13 passengers abducted while travelling from Enugu to Abuja. The victims reportedly spent five days in captivity at Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area before their rescue.

Earlier, on August 14, five other victims, including a four-year-old boy, were rescued after gunmen attacked their commercial bus along the Ankpechi-Omutele route in Ohimini Local Government Area.

The police subsequently reported that a suspect was killed during a gun duel with security operatives on August 16, while an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition were recovered.

Benue has also recorded fresh attacks on rural settlements. On August 16, gunmen reportedly invaded communities in Mbazun Ward, Ukum Local Government Area, killing and injuring residents.

The incidents have increased fears among residents and community leaders over the safety of farming communities and major roads in the state.

OPWS appealed to residents to provide security agencies with timely and credible information to assist ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities across Benue.