27th May, 2023
By Thompson Yamput
Ten travellers abducted by gunmen along Lokoja-Abuja highway on Thursday have been rescued by a combined team of security operatives working with local vigilantes.
The kidnapped travelers were rescued by security operatives on Friday following intensive search and tracking of the kidnappers, Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, the Security Adviser (SA) to Gov. Yahaya Bello, said in a telephone interview in Lokoja.
“When the incident was reported, a combined team of security operatives immediately responded by launching search lights across the state for the kidnappers.
“Thanks be to God, our efforts paid off as all the 10 persons kidnapped by the criminals were rescued today, Friday.
“We are still searching for the perpetrators to arrest them to face the wrath of the law. This Government under Gov. Yahaya Bello won’t tolerate such criminals and criminality any more,” he said.
Omodara expressed surprise over the resurgence of kidnapping along the Lokoja-Abuja highway, which has long been absent and quiet.
The adviser thanked all the combined team of the state security operatives for the superlative rescue of the kidnap victims and for keeping residents of Kogi safe.
He said “probably is because they know that so many people are trooping to Abuja for the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Ahmed-Tinubu, coming up on Monday, May 29.
“But the criminal elements will be on a suicide mission if they think the Lokoja-Abuja highway is vineyard for them to carry out their nefarious activities.
“The security operatives are very ready to deal with such dare devils as stringent measures have been taken to ensure that our highways are very safe for motorists and commuters,” he assured.
(NAN)
TYC/MST