Operation Whirl Stroke troops recover six kidnapping victims in Benue and Taraba

Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued six kidnapping victims in operations linked to Benue and Taraba states, the task force has said. The acting media information officer, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to journalists in Makurdi. According to the statement, troops received information on September 25, 2026, that six released victims were in the area around Gbise community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The troops mobilised to the location and evacuated them to a secure area for safety and further action. Five of the victims told investigators that they had been abducted along the Chenchengi-Takum road. The sixth, identified as Munza Yusuf, said he had been kidnapped from his residence in the Ahmadu General area of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The rescued victims were named as Gabriel Enujuba, 50; Samson Magbo, 43; Alkasim Modu, 27; Manzo Bello, 27; Sani Abdullahi, 25; and Yusuf, 25. Zubairu said troops were maintaining intelligence-led operations to locate and arrest members of the kidnapping syndicate believed to be responsible for the attacks. He added that patrols and human-intelligence gathering had been intensified along vulnerable communities and major routes.

Operation Whirl Stroke covers Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states. The task force said troops had been instructed to remain proactive and responsive to emerging security threats. It assured residents, farmers, commuters and other law-abiding citizens that it remained committed to protecting lives and property and reducing criminal activity across its area of operations.