Operation Whirl Stroke, a Joint Military Operation (JMO), successfully rescued eight individuals from kidnappers operating along the Taraba-Benue border, specifically between Wukari and Zaki-Biam in Benue State.
The rescued victims were presented to select media outlets at a military base camp in Zaki-Biam over the weekend.
Among those rescued were an NYSC member and a lawyer, both of whom had been held for over a month while their families negotiated ransoms.
One victim, Rabiu Muhammad, was abducted after attempting to pay a ransom for his cousin, Ibrahim Umar.
A military officer from the 401 Special Forces Brigade/Sector One of the Operation Whirl Stroke team, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the identities of the rescued individuals: Samuel Muekera (29), Anaelechi Bob (32), Ayuba Luka (28), Ibrahim Umar (30), Rabiu Muhammad (48), Buhari Ahmadu Saleh (17), and Blessing Ayuba (47).
The officer noted that the victims were kidnapped at different times while traveling on the Zaki-Biam-Wukari road in various vehicles.
Military reports indicate that the bandits terrorizing the communities in Ukum, Katsina, and the Sankera Local Government Areas are remnants of the late criminal gang leader Terwase Agwaza, known as Gana.
Victims who spoke to The Nation shared that they were kidnapped while traveling along the Zaki-Biam-Wukari road and endured over a month in captivity before being rescued.
They revealed that bandits operating in areas such as Chito, Tse Anaka, and Pevikya have made kidnapping a primary source of income, resulting in a rise in criminal activity in those regions.
Additionally, Blessing Ayuba, who had come to pay a ransom for her brother Tanko Ayuba, also fell victim to the kidnappers.
Troops from Operation Whirl Stroke are actively engaged in addressing security challenges across Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa states. Reports indicate that over 20 million naira was collected in ransom from the families of those rescued.
