Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully rescued six kidnap victims around the Gbise community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
​The operational success was disclosed on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in a formal statement released in Makurdi by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu.
​According to Lieutenant Zubairu, the rescue took place on Friday, September 25, 2026. Troops executing routine security patrols within the Gbise general area received actionable, credible intelligence regarding the presence and movements of the victims.
The team swiftly mobilized to the location, securing the area and safely evacuating all six individuals.
​The military authority identified the rescued individuals as Mr. Gabriel Enujuba (50), Mr. Samson Magbo (43), Mallam Alkasim Modu (27), Mr. Manzo Bello (27), Mallam Sani Abdullahi (25) and Mr. Munza Yusuf (25).
​Preliminary debriefing and investigations conducted by security operatives revealed that five of the victims were intercepted and abducted along the Chenchengi–Takum highway.
The sixth victim, Mr. Munza Yusuf, stated he was kidnapped directly from his residence situated in the Ahmadu general area of Takum Local Government Area in neighboring Taraba State.
​Lieutenant Zubairu noted that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have intensified aggressive, intelligence-led search operations to track, locate, and apprehend members of the criminal syndicate responsible for the abductions.
Patrols and human intelligence networks are being scaled up across key transit corridors and vulnerable border communities between Benue and Taraba states to deny armed bandits and kidnappers freedom of action.
​Reaffirming the mandate of the Joint Task Force across its Joint Operations Area, covering Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States, the military spokesperson assured residents, commuters, and farmers that OPWS remains committed to eliminating threats, safeguarding lives, and guaranteeing public safety.
