Benue: OPWS troops foil kidnap attempt, rescue 2 victims

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued two victims during a fighting patrol along the Naka–Ahume Road in Benue State.

The victims were rescued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, when the troops encountered suspected kidnappers allegedly armed with dangerous weapons while attempting to abduct motorists and other road users.

In a statement issued to journalists in Makurdi, the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters, Joint Task Force OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, said the troops engaged the suspects in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee.

He said the troops pursued the fleeing suspects but made no further contact with them.

According to the statement, one of the rescued victims, Mrs Mngunengen Ihom, 36, from Ahume, sustained machete wounds during the incident and was evacuated to Naka General Hospital for medical attention.

The Force Commander, Joint Task Force OPWS, and General Officer Commanding, 5 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Gara, 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 enhance early warning and improve responses to security threats.

He reassured residents of the task force’s commitment to restoring peace and security in the area, while urging members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.