Troops neutralise suspected bandit, arrest two alleged kidnappers in Benue
Army
Abdullateef Fowewe
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have neutralised a suspected bandit and arrested two alleged kidnappers during separate operations in Benue State.
In a statement issued Sunday by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the military said the operations followed credible intelligence received on August 19 regarding criminal activity in parts of the state.
The statement said troops moved against a group allegedly operating an illegal checkpoint along the Jortar–Atume axis, believed to be led by a suspected bandit kingpin and his associates.
“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,” the statement said.
It added that other members of the group fled the scene, abandoning a motorcycle later recovered by the troops.
In a separate operation carried out the same day in Logo Local Government Area, OPWS personnel arrested two suspects at Gou Village over an alleged attempted kidnapping.
The suspects were identified as 44-year-old Terhile Iyo and 32-year-old Vershima Emmanuel.
According to the military, they “reportedly confessed to an attempt to kidnap Mrs Balame Nyikwagh of Gou Village.”
Items said to have been recovered from the suspects include a locally made pistol, one cartridge, five Tecno torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, several SIM cards and charms.
“The suspects remain in military custody for further exploitation,” the statement added.
OPWS reassured residents of Benue State of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging members of the public to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information.
