JTF frees 2 kidnap victims recover cache of arms in Bayelsa creeks

 The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta on Wednesday said its troops has freed two kidnap victims in an operation conducted at Brass and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of Bayelsa.

Rear Admiral Suleman Apochi , Commander of JTF told newsmen in Yenagoa that troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in the rescue operation carried out at the weekend on the militants camps in Bayelsa.

According to Apochi, 3 AK 47 riffles, three pistols, medium calibre 12 mm gun as well as several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers den during the raid

The Commander however said that one of the victims held hostage by the kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries in a shootout with the kidnappers who later abandoned their camps due to superior firepower of the troops.

He explained that the troops rescued the injured victim who is currently receiving medical attention at a medical facility and is in a stable condition.

One of the freed victims, Sulaiman Yinusa told newsmen at the headquarters of the JTF that he was kidnapped at Abonima in Rivers while returning from a business trip from Aba.

He said he was held hostage at a militants camp in Bayelsa where he was held hostage for 50 days.

“I remain eternally grateful to God for my rescue by the joint military force, it was God’s making, they had killed many hostages before two of us were freed, especially those that their relations cannot come up with ransom demanded.

“They had demanded N10 million and my people cannot even raise N1 million, they negotiated ransome down to N100,000 but my people could not raise the money, they had told me that I will be killed today Wednesday.

“ As God may have it we were freed last Sunday, that is God at work, I am so proud of Nigerian military,” the elated victim said.

Apochi also said that the military was continuing in its efforts and clearance operation in Southern Ondo to rid the area of criminals.

“We were vindicated when the Ondo State Governor visited the creeks in Southern Ondo following results that troops had sacked residents and destroyed houses, it was evident that no houses were torched as erroneously reported.

“We are after the criminals and we are raiding their hideouts and we need the support of the people to isolate the criminals, in the ongoing operation,” Apochi said.