Army Rescues Two Kidnapped Unity Bank Staff Following Joint Operation in Taraba and Benue
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully rescued two bank employees who were abducted in Benue State and relocated to a neighboring community in Taraba State.
The victims, identified as 40-year-old Marwan Abubakar and 37-year-old Leng’en Cakop, are both staff members of Unity Bank.
They were initially kidnapped by armed assailants in Zaki-Biam, located in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, before being moved across state lines to Gborgbor Village in the Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The successful rescue mission was initiated after security forces received actionable intelligence pinpointing the presence of the terrorists and their captives in the area.
The acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, confirmed the details of the operation in a communique released to journalists on Sunday.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, OPWS troops conducted an aggressive search and rescue mission aimed at locating the terrorists and safely recovering the victims.
“Troops thoroughly searched suspected houses and locations within Gborgbor Village but initially found nothing unusual. Further intelligence indicated the kidnappers and their victims remained in the area,” Zubairu stated.
Following this vital piece of intelligence, additional troops led by the Sub-Sector Commander were rapidly deployed to reinforce the search efforts.
The aggressive operation was expanded to encompass surrounding settlements, including Tse Anaka, effectively boxing in the perpetrators and placing sustained pressure on their hideout.
“The terrorists were forced to abandon their captives and flee. The victims were safely recovered, and a motorcycle suspected to have been used by the criminals was recovered along the route to Tse Anaka Village,” Zubairu added.
The Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen. Moses Gara, commended the troops for their high level of professionalism and swift tactical response. He emphasized that the successful rescue highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-led military strategies in neutralizing kidnapping syndicates and other terrorist activities across the region.
General Gara also used the opportunity to reassure residents of Taraba, Benue, and neighboring states of the Joint Task Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.
He appealed to the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information to help dismantle the criminal networks operating in the region.
