Troops rescue 12 kidnap victims after clearance operation in mandara mountains

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 12 kidnap victims seven women and five children abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Gwoza–Limankara road in Borno State.

Zagazola reports that the victims, who were seized on Nov. 14 while travelling along the route, were freed on Sunday following a coordinated clearance operation in the Mandara Mountains under Operation Desert Sanity IV/Diligent Search.

Sources said that the rescue was conducted by troops under 26 Task Force Brigade, working jointly with hybrid forces, hunters and vigilantes.

The sources said troops launched a limited offensive in the early hours of Sunday, advancing along the Mandara Mountain foothills up to Uvaha, where they engaged the terrorists with “a high volume of fire”, forcing them to abandon the captives and flee.

“The victims, who had scattered into nearby bushes for safety during the firing, later emerged and moved towards the road, where troops rescued them at about 08:45 a.m.,” the sources added.

The rescued women were identified as Fadi Musa, Jummai Manga, Hamsatu Musa, Jummai Ali, Inna Amadu, Falmata Musa and Hadiza Hamman, alongside five children.

The victims, who trekked long distances after being abandoned, were taken to the brigade field ambulance for treatment of blisters and other injuries, with some reporting they had been severely beaten by the terrorists during captivity.

They were later provided meals and handed over to the representative of the Chairman, Gwoza Local Government Area, for reunification with their families.

Troops rescue 12 kidnap victims after clearance operation in mandara mountains

Police rescue 39 foreign nationals of alleged human trafficking in Mararraba, Nassarawa

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police in Nasarawa State have rescued 39 victims of alleged human trafficking, including 32 males and seven females, all from Mali except one female from Ivory Coast, during an operation in the Orange Market area of Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the rescue followed a report lodged at about 10:40 a.m. by one Habi Baraji, a Malian national who speaks only French and Arabic.

Baraji reported that he was lured from Mali to Nigeria about a week ago by another Malian, identified as Abdullahi Berter, who promised him a job opportunity in France.

According to him, upon arrival at the Orange Market in Mararaba, he realised he had been deceived, as Berter allegedly began pressuring him to bring more persons from Mali into Nigeria for an undisclosed purpose.

Baraji further told security personnel that he suspected Berter was holding “many other victims” captive in a house in the area.

Based on the intelligence, a team of detectives, swiftly mobilised to the location, where they discovered 39 foreigners confined inside a bungalow, all unable to speak any local Nigerian language. The victims were immediately evacuated to safety.

Sources that the rescued victims are currently in protective custody pending further profiling and communication with the Malian and Ivorian consular authorities.

Police rescue 39 foreign nationals of alleged human trafficking in Mararraba, Nassarawa

Police arrest own inspector, brother over alleged attack and forceful seizure of corpse in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police have arrested a serving officer, Insp. Ogbu Clement, and his elder brother, Isawa Ogbu, for allegedly leading over 50 youths to seize a corpse and attack residents of two communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Dr. Pius Onwe Odengle, a staff of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, reported the incident to the Otukpo Division, stating that on Nov. 28, at about 11:00 a.m., he was conveying the body of his late mother, Mama Lucy Inogwanya, from Makurdi to Ogyoma Village for burial.

He alleged that on reaching the Ogyoma Village junction, Insp. Ogbu Clement, attached to Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, accompanied by more than 50 youths from Adim Village, blocked the highway, damaged a Benue State Civil Protection Guard vehicle, seized the corpse, and went on to bury it in Adim Village, claiming the deceased was his aunty.

According to the sources , at about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, the inspector and his brother again mobilised youths from Adim Village to Ogyoma, where they allegedly attacked villagers, destroyed over 500 plastic chairs, smashed windows and doors, and inflicted varying degrees of injuries on several residents.

Police authorities said the Divisional Police Officer, Otukpo, mobilised patrol teams alongside troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, NSCDC Agro-Rangers, and the Benue State Civil Protection Guard to the scene.

Photographs were taken, and the injured victims were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The police confirmed that Insp. Ogbu Clement and his brother have been arrested, while further investigations are ongoing.

Police arrest own inspector, brother over alleged attack and forceful seizure of corpse in Benue