Eight persons were freed from kidnappers by Operation Whirl Stroke, a Joint Military Operation (JMO), which was carried out in the Ukum local government area of Benue State, along the Taraba-Benue border between Wukari and Zaki-Biam.
During the weekend, the soldiers paraded the rescued victims in front of a few media outlets at their military base camp in Zaki-Biam. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Two people who had been kidnapped and kept by their captors for more than a month while their families bargained for a ransom are among the recovered individuals: an attorney and a member of the NYSC.
One of the victims, Rabiu Muhammad, who came to pay ransom for his cousin Ibrahim Umar, was also abducted after the ransom was collected from him.
According to a military officer from the 401 Special Forces Brigade/Sector One of the Operation Whirl Stroke team, the people who were saved are Samuel Muekera (29 years old), Mr. Anaelechi Bob (32 years old), Ayuba Luka (28 years old), Ibrahim Umar (30 years old), Rabiu Muhammad (48 years old), Buhari Ahmadu Saleh (17 years old), and Blessing Ayuba (47 years old). The military officer requested anonymity because he was not permitted to speak with the media.
The officer stated that the seven rescued victims were taken captive while traveling in various vehicles on the Zaki-Biam-Wukari road at various times and dates.
According to military reports, the bandits tormenting people in Ukum, Katsina, and the Sankera Local Government Areas are the surviving members of the criminal gang leader Terwase Agwaza, better known as Gana.
According to some of the victims, they were taken captive while driving on the Zakibiam-Wukari road and held captive for almost a month before the military intervened to free them.
They claimed that kidnapping has become a source of income for bandits operating in communities like Chito, Tse Anaka, and Pevikya, which has increased criminal activity in these places.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, a military joint operation, are in Benue, Taraba, and Nassawa states, addressing security challenges. Over 20 million naira was collected as ransom from the families of those rescued. Eyes Of Lagos also learned that Blessing Ayuba, who arrived to pay ransom for her kidnapped brother, Tanko Ayuba, was also turned into a victim.
