In Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Benue State Police Command agents shot and killed three alleged kidnappers while freeing two victims.
About a week ago, the victims were abducted in Ukum by suspected kidnappers, who then demanded a ransom of N23 million.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, early on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, a group of Operation Zenda troops stationed nearby broke into the suspected kidnappers’ hideout.
The PPRO stated, “Officers of the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force stormed the kidnappers’ hideout on 29/5/2024 at about 0600hrs.”
When the kidnappers saw the police, they engaged the team in a gunfight, but the police’s superior firepower defeated them. Tersue Dada, also known as “Causer,” was the leader of the gang.
As a result, one suspect, Terver Tavershima of Tinenune, Ukum LGA, was taken into custody and three other suspects suffered gunshot wounds before being pronounced dead at the hospital
Anene reported that the team also found a motorcycle, a camouflage uniform, a dane gun, numerous phones, and an AK-47 rifle at the scene.
She continued by saying that the two abducted victims who were found unharmed told police that they had been taken from their homes and that a ransom of N23 million had been demanded.
According to Anene, the command was exerting every effort to drive out bandits from the Sankara axis and guarantee that people would return to their ancestral homes.
She also mentioned that Hassan Yabanet, the state’s commissioner of police, had urged citizens to assist law enforcement.