Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued 12 kidnapped victims at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State.
The Force Commander (FC), OPWS, Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia told newsmen on Friday in Makurdi that the victims were rescued on Feb. 21, following credible intelligence.
Major General Igbinomwanhia said the rescued 12 kidnapped victims were in transit from Imo to Adamawa State when they were kidnapped.
He disclosed that the kidnappers took advantage of the abandoned Federal Police Highway checkpoint to carry out their criminal act. The rescue operation comes after a serving Nigerian Air Force officer, Air Commodore John Ijudigal, recused two persons held hostage by suspected one-chance operators along the Wuse Zone 5 area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Upon sighting the troops of OPWS, the kidnappers fled, leaving their victims behind due to the superior firepower of the troops.
“On sighting the aggressive troops of OPWS with superior firepower, kidnappers fled leaving behind their victims.”
He said the troops also recovered an 18-seater bus belonging to Taraba Express International with serial number 212 and registration number GKA-371XA Taraba State from the kidnappers.
The rescued victims are identified as Mr Sule Abu age 55, Mrs Ashie Shuaibu age 26, Master Suleiman Abdullahi age 3, Mrs Zainab Salau age 35, Mr Muritala Yussuf age 22, Mrs Zainab Saidu age 45, Mr Hammed Mamud age 51, Mr Usman Ali age 27, Mr Nura Abubakar age 24, Mr Mohammed Aliyu age 20, Mrs Felicia Asusis age 29, and Mr Jacob Nathaniel age 22.
The Force Commander reiterated the commitment of OPWS in collaboration with other security agencies to rid Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States of criminal elements.
He further assured that OPWS would continue to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all law-abiding citizens within the Joint Task Force Joint Operations Area.
 have rescued 12 kidnapped victims at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State.){kind=link}