Kehinde Fajobi
Nigerian Army troops conducting rescue operations in Taraba State have arrested 12 suspects linked to recent kidnapping activities in the region.
The arrests followed a distress call from residents of Chachanji village, who reported the abduction of two individuals by an armed group of around 10 men on motorcycles on 7 November.
In a statement shared on Tuesday via X.com, the army revealed that the operation resulted in the seizure of 14 motorcycles, two bags of Indian hemp, and a locally made pistol.
The army stated, “Upon making contact with the armed group, the superior firepower of the troops forced the kidnappers to withdraw deep into the bush, leaving behind their locally fabricated pistol and two bags of Indian hemp.”
The troops’ presence in the area disrupted further criminal activity, effectively hampering the kidnappers’ operations.
In a subsequent operation on 9 November, the soldiers apprehended 12 suspects at a local drinking joint in Mbhakyir village, near Agu Centre, where they also seized 14 motorcycles.
According to the statement, “During an intensive investigation, the arrested suspects admitted to being part of the kidnapping operation and identified their leader as Veior John Gata, a notorious terrorist who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for orchestrating criminal activities in parts of southern Taraba and Benue states.”