Six kidnap victims have been rescued by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke after security operatives received intelligence on their whereabouts in the Katsina-Ala area of Benue State.
The victims were rescued on Friday, September 25, around Gbise community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, according to the Joint Task Force.
The Acting Media Information Officer of the JTF, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, said troops were conducting patrols in the area when they received information that six released kidnap victims were nearby.
The soldiers immediately moved to the location and evacuated the victims to safety.
The rescued persons were identified as Gabriel Enujuba, 50; Samson Magbo, 43; Alkasim Modu, 27; Manzo Bello, 27; Sani Abdullahi, 25; and Munza Yusuf, 25.
The task force said preliminary investigations showed that five of the victims were kidnapped along the Chenchengi-Takum road.
Yusuf, according to the statement, was abducted from his residence in the Ahmadu General area of Takum Local Government Area of neighbouring Taraba State.
Following the rescue, troops launched further intelligence-led operations aimed at tracking down members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for the abductions.
The task force said patrols and human intelligence gathering had also been intensified around vulnerable communities and major routes within its area of operation.
Operation Whirl Stroke urged residents to remain vigilant and provide useful information to security agencies as troops continue efforts to identify and apprehend suspected kidnappers.
The task force said it remained committed to protecting residents, farmers and commuters across its operational area.