Troops Arrest 3 Gunrunners, Foil Kidnap In Benue, Taraba

Troops of the Nigerian Army in Benue and Taraba states have intercepted three gunrunners and foiled a kidnap attempt as well as killed a suspected kidnapper.

A statement by the director of army public relations Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said troops, in collaboration with vigilantes, acting on actionable intelligence apprehended one Mansir Mohammed at Jalingo Motor Park in Taraba State.

He said Mohammed has been reportedly involved in gun-running activities with terrorists, adding that his arrest led to the nabbing of other members of his syndicate and the recovery of one semi automatic pump action gun, one locally fabricated gun, a Peugeot car, five mobile phones, and the sum of N45,000 only.

In another operation, troops on routine patrol at Miyande Village in Takum local government area of Taraba State intercepted two terrorist suspects who concealed an automatic rifle underneath the seat of a motorbike on which they rode.

The troops recovered one AK- 47 rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a motorcycle.

In another separate development, troops responded to a distress call and successfully foiled a kidnap attempt within Zaki-Biam town in Zaki-Biam local government area of Benue State.

The director said troops during the intervention neutralized one kidnapper in a shootout with the criminals and recovered a Beretta pistol with 4 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.