Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully rescued 11 kidnapped victims and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition in a well-coordinated offensive across parts of Benue and Taraba States.
The daring operation, conducted between Saturday and Sunday, was executed by troops from Sector I of OPWS, with aerial support from the Air Component and strategic ground blocking maneuvers by Sector III in Gindin Mangoro, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
According to a military source who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the joint operation targeted criminal hideouts in Tse-Ahur and Chito general areas of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
“The operation demonstrated a high level of strategic coordination and led to a successful engagement with suspected kidnappers,” the source said.
Troops reportedly overpowered the criminals with superior firepower, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, while others fled, abandoning their captives and weaponry.
A subsequent search-and-rescue mission led to the recovery of 11 hostages—comprising four women and seven men—who have since received medical attention and are being processed for reunification with their families.
Weapons Cache Recovered
Items recovered from the criminal hideouts include:
- Four FN rifles
- Three G3 rifles
- Four AK-47 rifles
- One PKT machine gun
- One locally fabricated dane gun
- Multiple magazines and assorted rounds of ammunition
- Smoke canisters
- Fetish charms
The troops also destroyed the criminals’ camp and logistical structures, effectively disrupting their operational capacity in the region.
High-Level Oversight and Commendation
The Force Commander of OPWS, Maj.-Gen. Moses Gara, who was on the ground to oversee the operation, commended the troops for their professionalism, gallantry, and tactical discipline.
“This operation reflects the strategic directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the renewed vision of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to eliminate criminal elements from our communities,” Gara stated.
He also expressed appreciation to the CDS and Service Chiefs for their continuous support, highlighting the importance of resource deployment, inter-agency collaboration, and sustained pressure in achieving security breakthroughs.
Gara assured that the troops would maintain operational momentum and intensify efforts to restore lasting peace across Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa States.
The latest success comes amid renewed military efforts to combat rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism across the North Central region of Nigeria.