Army rescues six abductees in Benue

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have rescued six kidnapped persons around Gbise community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

Ahmad Zubairu, the JTF Acting Media Information Officer, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the troops rescued the victims on 25 September after receiving information about their release.

According to Mr Zubairu, the troops were conducting a patrol in the area when they received credible information about the six victims. They immediately mobilised to evacuate them to a secure location.

The victims were identified as Gabriel Enujuba, 50; Samson Magbo, 43; Alkasim Modu, 27; Manzo Bello, 27; Sani Abdullahi, 25, and Munza Yusuf, 25.

Mr Zubairu said five of the victims told troops during preliminary investigations that they were abducted along the Chenchengi-Takum Road.

He said Mr Yusuf was taken from his residence in the Ahmadu General area of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The task force said its troops had intensified intelligence-led operations to locate and arrest members of the kidnapping syndicate responsible for the attacks.

It also said patrols and human intelligence gathering had been strengthened around vulnerable communities and major routes in the area.

The latest rescue comes amid continued kidnapping incidents along routes linking Benue and neighbouring Taraba State.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that troops and police rescued 13 passengers abducted from a commercial bus travelling from Enugu to Abuja along the Ankpechi-Omutele axis in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue.

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The 13 victims were rescued on 20 August from Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area, five days after the attack. Earlier, five victims, including a four-year-old boy, had been rescued, while other passengers remained in captivity.

The security agencies have continued operations in parts of Benue to disrupt criminal networks and secure major roads and communities.