Operation Whirl Stroke Rescues Six Kidnap Victims in Benue’s Katsina-Ala After Tip-Off
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke have successfully rescued six kidnapped victims around the Gbise community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, the military said on Saturday.
The breakthrough came on 25 September 2026 while soldiers were on routine patrol. Acting on credible information that the victims had been released and were present in the area, the troops moved quickly to the location, evacuated the six men to a secure place, and began further necessary procedures.
The rescued victims were identified as Gabriel Enujuba, 50; Samson Magbo, 43; Alkasim Modu, 27; Manzo Bello, 27; Sani Abdullahi, 25; and Munza Yusuf, 25.
During preliminary questioning, five of the men said they had been abducted along the Chenchengi-Takum road, a route linking communities on the Benue-Taraba border.
The sixth victim, Munza Yusuf, reported that he was kidnapped from his residence in the Ahmadu General area of Takum Local Government Area in neighbouring Taraba State.
Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, said the successful recovery reaffirmed the force’s commitment to protecting lives and denying criminal groups freedom of action within its Joint Operations Area.
Following the rescue, troops have intensified aggressive, intelligence-led operations aimed at tracking and apprehending members of the kidnapping syndicate responsible.
Patrols and human intelligence gathering have also been stepped up along major routes and in vulnerable communities to restrict the movement of criminal elements.
Operation Whirl Stroke, which covers parts of Benue, Taraba, and neighboring areas, has recorded a series of similar successes in recent months against bandits and kidnappers operating along the border corridors.
The force continues to urge residents to share timely information, stressing that security remains a shared responsibility.
The six men have been moved to safety. Authorities say efforts to identify and neutralize the remaining members of the syndicate remain ongoing.
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