The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Auwalu Mahmuda, has advised troops to be vigilant and committed to tackling insecurity in their Areas of Responsibility (AOR).

This was contained in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lt.

-Col. Jonah Danjuma, made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Danjuma quoted Mahmuda as giving the advice during his visit to the troops’ location near the Old Oyo National Park in the state.

The GOC, who inspected the lIgbeti–Igboho–Sepetari Road in Olorunsogo Local Government Area (LGA) said that the visit was part of a broader framework of visiting formations and units to have an on the spot assessment of troop deployment.

Mahmuda was received and briefed on the security situation in the area by the Commanding Officer (CO), 81 Battalion, Lt.-Col. Chiemezie Asogwa.

“The GOC also visited the 169 Motorcycle Battalion Headquarters, Ikoyi-Ile, and Abaja Response Area, both in Oriire LGA, and was received by the Commanding Officer (CO), Lt.-Col. Waziri Ayuba.

The commanding officers conducted the GOC round the deployment areas and briefed him on the operational disposition of the battalion.

Addressing the troops, Mahmuda urged the soldiers to be alert, disciplined and to maintain an aggressive posture.

He also commended the troops for ensuring safety in their areas of responsibility while urging them to adhere to the core values of the Nigerian Army. (NAN)

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force and local vigilantes, have rescued seven kidnapped victims in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue.

Acting Media Information Officer OPWS, Lt.

Ahmad Zubairu, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Makurdi.

Zabairu said the operation was conducted as an intelligence-led search and rescue mission.

According to him, the victims were rescued on Sept. 14, following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected kidnappers operating around the Amla-Icho, Ogobia and Anpekchi communities in the area.

Zubairu said the troops, working with the police and local vigilantes, swiftly mobilised to the identified areas following the intelligence.

He said the suspected kidnappers fled into the surrounding terrain on sighting the advancing troops, abandoning their victims.

“However, troops immediately secured the area and successfully rescued seven kidnapped victims, bringing them out of harm’s way,” he said.

Zubaru revealed that a vehicle linked to the criminal operation was also recovered during the operation.

The information added that the recovered vehicle was subsequently handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for further necessary action.

The OPWS spokesman commended the troops for their proactiveness, courage and swift response, which resulted in the safe recovery of the victims.

He appreciated the police and local vigilantes for their cooperation and support during the operation.

Zubairu, however, urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies.

He said such cooperation was necessary to enhance the safety and security of communities, stressing that security remained a collective responsibility. (NAN)

The Police Command in Ondo State said it has rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested three suspects at Isua-Akoko in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.

Abayomi Jimoh, command’s Spokesperson, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Akure, said the command also recovered N1.

5 million, which was suspected to be payment of ransom.

According to Jimoh, the breakthrough was recorded on Sept.

11 following credible intelligence that a group of suspected kidnappers are hiding in the thick forest along the Ifira–Idoani axis to collect ransom.

 “Acting on the intelligence, operatives of Isua division, in collaboration with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) and Agbe-Koya, embarked on a coordinated rescue and ambush operation deep inside the forest.

 “The security operatives strategically positioned themselves along the suspected route and maintained surveillance for several hours.

 “At about 2330 hours, the suspected kidnappers, numbering about four and armed with firearms, emerged from the forest.

 “On sighting the security operatives, they opened fire, prompting the security team to tactically repel the attack and rescue the two victims, Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.

 “During the encounter, the security operatives recovered the sum of N1.5 million suspected to have been brought for ransom payment,” he said.

The command’s spokesperson, however, said the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and escaped into the thick forest.

He also said police personnel sustained follow-up operations and credible intelligence, which led to sighting the kidnappers on Sept. 13 at about 2030 hours along Idoani Road.

 “Operatives immediately mobilised to the area, resulting in the arrest of three suspects, while two of them sustained gunshot injuries to their legs.

 “The arrested suspects are: Abdullahi Abubakar, male, Ibrahim Abubakar, male, and Oseni Abubakar, male, all residents of Akunnu area.

 “The two rescued victims subsequently came to the police station and positively identified the arrested suspects as their abductors,” he said.

Jimoh, therefore, said the Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the police had also been identified by the victims as being connected to the criminal operation.

The spokesperson said the command would continue to deny criminal elements access to forests and other hideouts within the state, and sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements. (NAN)