Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke in collaboration with the police and other security agencies have rescued nine kidnap victims and arrested two suspects in Benue State.

The Force Commander, OPWS, Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Makurdi.

He said that troops rescued the victims and arrested the suspects during an operation on Tuesday at Owukpa forest in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Igbinomwanhia added that the rescued victims comprised eight females and a male.

He said the operation followed the kidnapping of passengers transiting in a commercial bus along Otukpo – Enugu Road on January 11.

“During the fire fight, the kidnappers fled their hideout due to our superior fire power, abandoning their victims in the process. Some of the items recovered at the scene include one AK 47 rifle and 10 mobile phones. The rescued victims were immediately moved to the Sector Headquarters for First Aid attention, “he said

He added that the victims were later allowed to proceed to their respective destinations after debriefing.

Mr Igbinomwahia said the suspects and the items recovered during the raid had been handed over to the police for further action.

The commander thanked residents for providing the information that led to the discovery of the hideout of the criminals and subsequent rescue of the victims.

He also urged residents of neighbouring states of Nasarawa and Taraba states to continue to make use of the emergency numbers provided by the command towards providing credible information on suspicious criminal activities for action.

(NAN)