Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have successfully foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued three victims unharmed in Chanchanji village, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The incident took place during a routine patrol and picketing operation along the Takum–Chanchangi Road. As the troops neared the Uko community area, they encountered armed bandits who had already abducted three individuals travelling in a vehicle.
According to a statement by Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, the kidnappers, on sighting the soldiers, quickly abandoned the victims and fled into the nearby forest. The troops pursued the assailants, engaging them in a brief firefight which forced them deeper into the bush.
All three abducted individuals were safely rescued, including Alhaji Ali, the Sarki Pawa of Takum. The victims’ vehicle was recovered at the scene, although the fleeing criminals escaped with the car key and two mobile phones.
Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade, commended the troops for their swift and effective response. He urged the public to continue supporting the military by providing credible information that would aid ongoing operations against criminality.
He reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and vowed to continue efforts to eliminate criminal elements from Taraba State and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has condemned a separate attack on the Munga Lelau community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area, which claimed an unspecified number of lives. Describing the incident as “horrendous and unacceptable,” the governor stated that such acts only hinder the state’s development and must be urgently addressed.