Soldiers have successfully rescued six abducted individuals, including a young child and a driver, after suspected gunmen ambushed a vehicle in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack happened on Thursday night when armed men intercepted a Toyota Carina II coming from Katsina-Ala.
The assailants diverted the passengers into the forest near an abandoned Civil Defence checkpoint.
Military sources confirmed to newsmen on Friday that the intervention was made possible through credible intelligence.
Troops, working with a Keystone security outfit, quickly stormed the area and freed the victims.
Those rescued were identified as 43-year-old driver, Mr. Terna Gbaya; Mr. Musa Adamu, 55, from Tella-Kanuri; Mrs. Rose Sor, 35, from Kyuwande; Mrs. Lydia Vyiashima, 40, from Kwanshisha; Mrs. Comfort Iyofar, 60, from Vaase in Wukari LGA, and a child.
A source revealed that further search operations are still underway in the general area to secure other passengers believed to be in captivity and to apprehend the kidnappers.
The development comes as the military intensifies counter-kidnapping operations across Benue’s highways in response to the growing wave of abductions.
