Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims in Benue State

Military personnel attached to Operation WHIRL STROKE have freed two individuals who were kidnapped in separate incidents earlier this month in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The rescued victims were identified as Sylvester Micheal Ebuka and Chidinma Chikwentu. According to military authorities, they were released around 3:50 a.m. on April 15, 2026, following what officials described as an intelligence-led offensive against criminal groups operating in the Kyado area.

In a statement released by the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Ebuka was abducted on April 2, 2026, at approximately 6:50 a.m., while Chikwentu was seized on April 6, 2026, at about 5:13 p.m.

The statement explained that the rescue was achieved through sustained military pressure on suspected bandit enclaves in the region. “The breakthrough was achieved through a combination of credible intelligence and relentless operational pressure mounted by troops on suspected bandit hideouts within the general area,” the statement read.

It further noted that troops conducted aggressive fighting patrols aimed at flushing out criminals and disrupting their operations. The sustained offensive forced the abductors to flee, leaving the victims behind. Both Ebuka and Chikwentu were rescued unhurt.

The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their professionalism and dedication. “The successful rescue is a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and the determination of the troops to deny criminal elements freedom of action,” he said.

General Gara also assured residents of Benue State that the military would continue operations until all security threats in the area are fully neutralised. He called on the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that “community cooperation remains vital in the fight against kidnapping and other forms of criminality.”