Troops foil kidnap attempt by bandits

Nigerian Army troops conducting counter-terrorism and insurgency operations in Benue State have foiled a kidnapping attempt in the state’s Zaki-Biam Local Government Area.

The kidnappers had attacked Zaki-Biam town, but the forces’ rapid arrival in response to a distress call from a member of the community prevented them from abducting residents.

Last week, troops from multiple theatres of operations recovered 133 kidnapped civilians.

Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, stated on Monday that the forces successfully repelled the kidnapping attempt in Benue State following a gunfight.

He pointed out that one of the kidnappers was killed during the firefight.

He said, “In another development, troops responded to a distress call and successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt within Zaki-Biam town in Zaki-Biam Local Government Area of Benue State.

“During the intervention, troops neutralized kidnapper in a shootout with the criminals and recovered a Beretta pistol with four rounds of 9mm ammunition.”

Onyema further stated that the army operatives, in coordination with vigilantes, apprehended a gun runner named Mansir Mohammed at Jalingo Motor Park in Taraba State.

He claimed Mohammed was supplying weaponry to terrorists and that his arrest prompted the arrest of other members of his organization.

Onyema said, “In Taraba State, troops, in collaboration with vigilantes, acted on actionable intelligence to apprehend one Mansir Mohammed at Jalingo Motor Park, who has been reportedly involved in gun-running activities with terrorists.

“His arrest led to the nabbing of other members of his syndicate and the recovery of one semi-automatic pump-action gun, one locally fabricated gun, a Peugeot car, five mobile phones, and the sum of N45,000 only.”

In another operation in Taraba State, Onyema reported that troops on patrol caught two suspected terrorists who had concealed an automatic gun beneath the seat of their motorbike.

He said, “In a separate operation, troops on routine patrol at Miyande Village in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State have intercepted two terrorist suspects who concealed an automatic rifle underneath the seat of a motorbike on which they rode.

“The vigilant troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a motorcycle.

“These successful operations underscore the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism and insurgency in its quest to ensure security in the country.

“We urge members of the public to continue to support our troops as they conduct their operations.”