Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, have neutralized two suspected kidnappers and rescued three abducted victims during a fighting patrol in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The operation took place at approximately 3:00 a.m. on July 17, 2026, in the Tse-Togo and Utenge communities, following intelligence reports on the activities of armed kidnappers in the area.
Gun battle and rescue
The troops engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, killing two of the suspected kidnappers and successfully rescuing three kidnapped victims unharmed. The rescued individuals were later reunited with their families after preliminary profiling.
Recovered weapons and equipment
Following the operation, troops exploited the kidnappers’ hideouts and recovered a cache of arms and equipment. The items include one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, one pistol, 19 AK-47 magazines, one G3 magazine, 181 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 40 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, nine rounds of 5.56×45mm ammunition, two pairs of woodland camouflage uniforms, two pairs of desert camouflage uniforms, one Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, and one Tetron communication device.
Ongoing operations
Military authorities have stated that clearance operations are continuing across the area to track down other fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate and dismantle their remaining hideouts. The recovered items have been taken into custody for further investigation.
