By Amos Aar
THE Joint Task Force (JTF) known as Operation Zenda in Benue State on Thursday discovered and exhumed the corpse of Elder Simon Ankau, a 74-year-old retired school principal who was kidnapped on April 18, 2023.
The late septuagenarian is the biological father of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Jacob Terkaa Ankau, the Priest in charge of St. Peter’s Parish, Ayati in Ukum LGA of Benue State
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The JTF, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Justine Gberindyer, was reportedly killed and buried in a shallow grave near Gaya Town, on the border between Ukum and Katsina-Ala local government areas.
Elder Ankau’s kidnappers were said to have demanded a ransom from his family, which was delivered by the deceased’s wife and son, both of whom were also taken hostage.
However, operatives of Operation Zenda had sometime in May successfully rescued the deceased’s wife and son while a search for the Elder Ankau continued.
The persistent search for Elder Ankau led the members of Operation Zenda to discover the shallow grave in which he was buried.
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While the remains of Elder Ankau has been recovered, CSP Gberindyer however is mute on further details on whether any arrest had been made and how the JTF was able to identify the corpse that had decomposed beyond recognition.
CSP Gberindyer reiterated the Benue State government’s commitment towards purging the state of criminality.
