The army has denied reports by the Taraba State Police Command, claiming that Mr. Itamar, an Israeli national recently rescued from kidnappers, was under military escort at the time of his abduction.
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the army described the police’s account as inaccurate.
The army said the Israeli expatriate, who works with SCC Company, was alone in his vehicle without any escort or driver when he was abducted on April 3, along the Takum–Chanchangi Road in Atim Community in Takum Local Government Area.
The rebuttal was issued by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade /Sector 3 of ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’, who emphasized that the claim by the state police command did not reflect the actual circumstances surrounding the incident.
The statement went on to highlight that the rescue operation was led by the commanding officer of the 93 Battalion in Takum and was based on credible intelligence.
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“It involved coordinated efforts with local community leaders in Kofai Ahmadu, Apako, and Chanchangi areas. Notably, no weapons were discharged during the mission,” the statement added.
According to the army, the operation relied on exerting strategic pressure on key local figures, which yielded actionable intelligence and ultimately led to Mr. Itamar’s safe release.
While expressing gratitude for inter-agency cooperation in securing the release, the army urged the Taraba State Police Command to verify information before issuing public statements, warning that misinformation could undermine public trust and ongoing security efforts.
