NIGERIA: Army Debunks Police Account On Rescue Of Abducted Israeli In Taraba

Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Nigerian Army has publicly faulted the Taraba State Police Command, for what it described as a misleading narrative regarding the rescue of an Israeli national, Mr. Gil Itamar, who was abducted on April 3 in Takum Local Government Area of the state.

Mr. Itamar, a staff member of the construction firm SCC Company, was reportedly kidnapped while travelling alone in Atim community, along the Takum–Chanchangi Road.

Contrary to the police’s earlier claim, the Army stated that the foreign national was not under military escort at the time of the incident.

The clarification came via a statement issued on Saturday, by Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Jalingo.

He said: “Contrary to the claim that Mr. Gil Itamar was being escorted by the military at the time of his abduction, we wish to categorically state that he was alone in his vehicle, without any military escort or driver, when the unfortunate incident occurred.”

The Army further revealed that the successful rescue operation was led by the Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Takum, in conjunction with local stakeholders.

The operation, described as intelligence-driven and executed without gunfire, reportedly relied on mounting pressure on community leaders in Kofai Ahmadu, Abako, and Chanchanji.

According to the Army, vital information from locals led to the eventual location where Mr. Itamar was found abandoned by his abductors, underscoring the role of community cooperation in security operations.

Reaffirming its commitment to collaborative security efforts, the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke warned against the dangers of misinformation in inter-agency operations.

“We urge our sister agency, the Taraba State Police Command, to exercise due diligence in gathering accurate information before making public statements, especially on sensitive matters concerning inter-agency operations. Misinformation not only misleads the public but may also undermine the credibility of security efforts in the state,” the Army stated.

The Army concluded by emphasizing its ongoing dedication to safeguarding lives and property in Taraba and called for continued cooperation among all security stakeholders to maintain peace in the region.