Troops foil kidnapping attempt, rescue two victims along Naka-Ahume Road

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued two victims along the Naka-Ahume Road in Benue State.

The troops rescued the victims during a fighting patrol on October 24, 2026, after encountering suspected kidnappers who were allegedly attempting to abduct motorists and other road users.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the task force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to the statement, the troops encountered the armed suspects while conducting patrols along the road and engaged them in a gun battle.

The suspected kidnappers reportedly abandoned their captives and fled following the exchange of gunfire.

The troops subsequently pursued the fleeing suspects but did not make further contact with them.

One of the rescued victims, identified as Mrs Mngunengen Ihom, 36, from Ahume, sustained machete wounds during the incident.

She was evacuated to Naka General Hospital for medical attention.

The task force did not disclose the identity of the second rescued victim or provide further details about the circumstances of the attempted abduction.

Meanwhile, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding, 5 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Gara, has charged troops to sustain aggressive, intelligence-led operations against armed groups threatening the safety of residents within the joint operations area.

Gara also urged personnel to strengthen human intelligence gathering to improve early warning mechanisms and ensure a swift response to security threats.

He reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to restoring peace and security in communities within its area of responsibility.

The force commander also urged residents to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.

Operation Whirl Stroke is a joint security operation tasked with addressing security threats and restoring stability in parts of the North-Central region.