By Attah Ede
Military troops of the Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have rescued six kidnap victims in Benue State.
They were rescued in Gbise community, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, on Saturday in Makurdi.
He noted that the victims were rescued on Friday after troops on patrol received credible information about their release and immediately mobilised to the area to evacuate them to safety.
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.
Zubairu explained that during preliminary questioning, five of the victims reportedly said they were abducted along the Chenchengi-Takum Road, while Yusuf said he was kidnapped from his residence in the Ahmadu General area of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
He said the development came as troops intensified operations against kidnapping syndicates operating across communities and major routes within the task force’s Joint Operations Area.
The statement added that the troops had continued intelligence-led operations to locate and apprehend members of the syndicate responsible for the abductions.
Zubairu said patrols and human intelligence gathering had also been intensified to deny criminal elements freedom of action in vulnerable communities and along major routes.
“We have directed our personnel to remain proactive and responsive to emerging security threats while strengthening intelligence networks to identify and track suspected criminals.
“OPWS remains committed to protecting lives and property and creating a secure environment for residents, farmers, commuters and other law-abiding citizens within its area of operation,” the statement concluded.
