Troops from Exercise Enduring Peace III successfully liberated seven abducted individuals in Ogumula village, situated within the Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
Remarkably, this operation transpired within a span of less than 24 hours, following a demonstration by the local youth of Ohimini LGA, who had blocked the Otukpo-Adoka-Owerto federal highway to protest the recurring incidents of kidnappings along the route.
During the protest, Edache Ochojila, one of the demonstrating youths, informed reporters that earlier in the week, as many as 11 commuters had fallen victim to abductions along the same road. The protest had escalated due to the apprehension of a suspected kidnapper by the local youths, which led to confrontations with the police.
In regard to the rescued victims, Joseph Har, the Security Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia, revealed that troops from the 72nd Battalion and the 401st Brigade initiated a search operation based on credible intelligence that he had provided. Har had received information regarding the movement of kidnappers with their captives in the vicinity of the Igaji general area and promptly alerted the troops from Exercise Enduring Peace III. These troops swiftly mobilized and carried out the successful rescue operation, working in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force.
“The troops, in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force swiftly responded, combed the area in search of the kidnapped victims and rescued seven persons.”
He explained that the criminals on sighting the troops fled, leaving behind the victims due to the superior power of the troops.
He mentioned victims rescued to include; 19-year-old James Ebeh, Mary Ejeh, 40, Flora Alfa, 32, Mary John, 27, Ogumula Sunday, 18, Fidelis Ogumala, 55, and Stephen Onihi, 43.
Speaking further, Har revealed that the rescued victims were handed over to the village head, Chief Peter Ottoh Adakola, in the presence of the youth leader, Iduma Fidelis, and others after which they were taken to the general hospital in Otukpo for medical care.
According to him, the victims were kidnapped at about 5 p.m. on October 9, 2023, at Ogumula village and were rescued at about 6 a.m. on October 13, 2023.
Har who urged the people to remain calm noted that the troops were on the ground to fight crime and criminalities in the state, adding that the state government, led by Governor Hyacinth Alia was committed to ensuring the protection of lives and properties of residents.
“Those in the enterprise of mischief and criminality should take advantage of this window of the carrot approach and shun all forms and acts of criminality as the stick approach will be drastic and ruthless”, he noted.
