By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, a joint security spike operation, have rescued 12 kidnapped victims who were in transit from Imo to Adamawa State, in a Benue community.

The victims, including pregnant women, were said to be travelling in a commercial vehicle marked Taraba Express International when they were waylaid Wednesday by bandits at Jootar village in Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, of the State.

The rescue of the victims was made known Friday in a statement released in Makurdi by the Field Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen.Sunday Igbinomwanhia.

Gen. Igbinomwanhia said the successful rescue operation which was carried out following credible intelligence also led to the recovery of the 18-seater bus hijacked by the gang.

He stated that the success of the operation was also a function of the intensified onslaught and aggressive posture of OPWS, in its operations against bandits, terrorists and other criminals in its Areas of Operation in the North Central.

The Field Commander in the statement informed that the operation followed “credible human Intelligence on the activities of kidnappers, troops of Sector 1 OPWS, on February 21, 2024, at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State, rescued 12 kidnapped victims who were on transit from Imo State to Adamawa State.

“It was observed that the perpetrators took advantage of the abandoned Federal Police Highway checkpoint to carry out their criminal act.

“On sighting the aggressive troops of OPWS with superior fire power, the kidnappers fled leaving behind their victims. An 18 seater bus belonging to Taraba Express International with Serial Number 212 and Registration Number GKA-371XA TARABA STATE was recovered from the kidnappers den and towed to the troops location..

Gen. Igbinomwanhia reiterated that “OPWS will continue to commit efforts in collaborating with other security agencies in making Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States safe from any forms of criminal activities.”

He further reassured the general public stressing that “OPWS will continue to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all patriotic citizens within the Joint Task Force Joint Operations Area.”

He said among those rescued were 55 years Mr. Sule Abu, 26 years old Mrs. Ashie Shuaibu, three years old Suleiman Abdullahi, Mrs. Zainab Salau, 35 years, Mr. Muritala Yussuf, 22 years old, Mrs. Zainab Saidu, 45 years old and Mr. Hammed Mamud 51 years old.

Others include 27 years old Mr. Usman Ali, Mr. Nura Abubakar 24 years , Mr. Mohammed Aliyu 20 years old, Mrs. Felicia Asusis 29 years old, and 22 years old Jacob Nathaniel.