By Marcus Ikechukwu
Operations Whirl Stroke (OPWS), the military spike operation in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, have rescued twenty-one persons from the hands of their abductors, who were identified to be a local militia group.
On Thursday, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), OPWS, Flight Lieutenant Audu Katty, disclosed this in a statement in Makurdi, the operational headquarters of OPWS.
Katty explained that 20 of the victims, who were commuters, were rescued by OPWS troops along Kente-Chinkai road in Wukari Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State on Tuesday.
He further explained that a lone local with machete wounds were also rescued while pursuing the militia that had earlier abducted the commuters.
The OPWS spokesman said the local who was severely hurt from machete wounds was taken to the Primary Health Care Centre in Kente for treatment.
According to Katty, “On 6th December 2022, the gallant troops of Op Whirl Stroke, while responding to distress calls on the activities of a local militia along Kente-Chinkai road in Wukari LGA of Taraba State, mobilised and moved to the scene.
“The local militia in their numbers, dressed in full military attires on sighting advancing troops, abandoned their hostages and fled into the bush.
“Troops exploited the bush and rescued all the hostages. In yet another relentless effort, the troops of OPWS rescued 20 commuters from their abductors.
“Troops further exploited deep into the bush and rescued an unidentified local with a machete injury on his head. The rescued victim has since been taken to Kente Primary Health Care for treatment.”
He observed that thereafter, “The tireless troops launched a manhunt (for the militia) and trailed the militia’s hideout.
“Contact was made with them. Troops responded and overpowered them with superior firepower making the militia flee in disarray with possible gunshot wounds.”
Katty also stressed that “Operation Whirl Stroke would continue to safeguard the lives of innocent citizens across the area of its responsibility.
“We solicit for the cooperation of the locals to continue giving timely information on the activities of criminals,” he appealed.
