The Government of Benue State has announced that 17 suspected criminals who abducted Taraba youths have been nabbed by troops.

Recall that a combined team of soldiers and police from Benue and Taraba respectively rescued 19 out of 23 Takum youths abducted along Wukari – Takum road in Taraba state last Wednesday.


The Benue State Government Monday fingered loyalists of the late criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza popularly known as ‘Gana’ as masterminds of the recent abduction of 23 indigenes of Taraba State.

Special Adviser on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba, who made this known at a news conference in Makurdi, said Governor Samuel Ortom administration would not condone any act of criminality within its border.

 Hemba confirmed the latest development to journalists on Monday, February 1. He said that those who abducted the youths were loyalists of the late terrorist, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana.


The special adviser, who disclosed that the victims are all of Taraba ethnic stock, maintained that the bandits resorted to such antics to get respite since security operatives had dislodged them.

According to the governor’s aide, the criminal elements aimed to trigger an inter-communal crisis between the Tiv and Jukun tribes.

The security adviser said that all the kidnap victims are Jukuns from Taraba, adding that the youths were kept at Ajon, Igbudu, and Tor Donga axis all in the Katsina-Ala local government area of the state.

“The kidnappers aimed to trigger an inter-communal crisis between the Tiv and Jukun tribes in that axis so that they can have a respite from the pressure on them from the security forces, '' he said.

Hemba also confirmed that the combined team of troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, 72 Special Forces Battalion, 83 Battalion, and Mobile Policemen from Takum rescued 19 out of the 23 abducted victims, adding that efforts were on for the remaining four.