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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The kidnapped Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area , (LGA), Rev. Gideon Haanongon, has been rescued after spending about two weeks with his abductors.
Haanongon was kidnapped with his personal assistant, his driver and police orderly at the early hours of Saturday, January 13, 2024, between Katsina Ala – Zaki Biam road on their way to the burial of the Ter Katsina Ala, Chief Fezaanga Wombo.
He was rescued with his PA by troops of 72 Special Force Battalion under 401 Special Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. A . Rabiu, on Wednesday in Katsina-Ala between 5 and 6pm.
The troop said they acted on a distress call, carried out rescue mission and in the process destroyed three camps of the kidnappers.
“When we recovered him, we brought him down to our barracks in Makurdi. We administered first aid on him and also, gave him food to eat. He is in good condition.
“Early this year, we rescued 8 females who were kidnapped on their way to a wedding ceremony along Benue-Enugu road and even neutralized one of the kidnappers.
“We are determined to secure the state and we have our men in the 23 local government areas”.
While narrating his ordeal to newsmen at 72 Battalion in Makurdj, Rev. Gideon Haanongon said on that fateful day, he was on his way to attend the burial of the late Ter Katsina-Ala, Chief Benjamin Fezaanga Wombo and around Anyagba, he came in contact with some strange boys who were shooting sporadically and even killed someone.
“At that point, I told my driver to stop the car and they took us straight into the bush. They covered my face throughout the period of my captivity. I did not know when it is day time or night. They kept us inside a thatched house without air.
“Each day, the soldiers will come shooting but they manoeuvred their way through a bush path and hid us inside a river. The soldiers destroyed their camps and they kept moving us to another place.
“They did not feed me because they do not have food themselves to eat. I was urinating often so they gave me banana leaves and it stopped.
“At a point they told me that these soldiers are disturbing them because of me and that the Governor had appealed to them to release me and he will forgive them. They said I should tell the Governor to keep to his words and get them out of the bush.
“So, at about 8pm on Wednesday, we crossed a stream and trekked a very long distance almost like from Makurdi to Abinsi and they removed the blindfold and asked me to take a path that leads to Zaki-Biam.
“But I recognized the village which is Tse Wombo in Katsina-Ala because my daughter is married there. I must appreciate immensely the effort of the military because it was their persistent pressure that made the kidnappers release me.
“I also appreciate the Special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security Lt. Col. Alexander Ashungu (rtd) who played a significant role in my release.
Speaking, the Security Adviser Lt. Col Alexander Ashungu rtd commended the military for their determination in ensuring the safe release of the council chairman.
He reiterated that the Alia government has zero tolerance for crime and is working hard to make the state safe.
