Troops Intercept 3 Gunrunners, Foil Kidnap Attempt In Taraba, Benue

Nigerian Army troops operating in Taraba and Benue States have intercepted three gunrunners, foiled kidnap attempt and killed one kidnapper.

A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops, in collaboration with vigilantes, acting on actionable intelligence, apprehended one Mansir Mohammed at Jalingo Motor Park in Taraba State.

He said Mohammed had been reportedly involved in gun-running activities with terrorists, adding that his arrest led to the arrest 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 cash.

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 from them.

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 Army spokesman said troops during the intervention neutralised one kidnapper in a shootout with the criminals and recovered a Beretta Pistol with 4 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.