Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, have rescued two kidnap victims after foiling an abduction attempt targeting motorists and other road users along Naka-Ahume Road in Benue State.
The Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, announced this in a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday.
Lt. Zubairu said the rescue took place on October 24, 2026, during a fighting patrol when the troops encountered suspected kidnappers attempting to abduct road users.
He said the troops engaged the suspects in a firefight, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee. They pursued the fleeing suspects but made no further contact with them.
According to him, one of the rescued victims, 36-year-old Mrs Mngunengen Ihom, from Ahume, sustained machete wounds during the incident. She was taken to Naka General Hospital for medical attention.
He quoted the Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, and General Officer Commanding, 5 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Gara, as urging troops to sustain aggressive, intelligence-led operations against armed groups threatening residents in the joint operations area.
He also called for stronger human intelligence gathering to improve early warning and enable security personnel to respond more quickly to emerging threats.
Maj. Gen. Gara reassured residents of the task force’s commitment to restoring peace and security, urging members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies in support of ongoing operations.
