A joint military operation in Nigeria’s Benue State successfully rescued 11 kidnapping victims, including two police inspectors, during raids targeting armed groups in the region. Major-General Moses Gara, Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), announced the breakthrough Monday in Makurdi, revealing that two suspects linked to the abductions had been arrested and were under interrogation. The operation followed weeks of intensified kidnappings in the Sankara area, spanning the local government regions of Kastina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo.
Conducted over the weekend by ground troops and air units, the mission focused on Tse-Ahur and Chito communities in Ukum Local Government. Sector 1 Commander Colonel Kolawole Bukoye led the raids, while Sector 3 troops established a blocking position in Taraba State’s Wukari area to intercept fleeing suspects. The rescued group—comprising four women and seven men—received medical care and will soon reunite with their families, officials confirmed.
Security forces recovered a significant arsenal during the operation, including multiple assault rifles, machine guns, ammunition, and locally crafted weapons. Investigators identified one detained suspect as an arms supplier for the group and another as a guard assigned to monitor hostages. General Gara credited Nigeria’s military leadership for bolstering operational capacity and pledged sustained efforts to stabilize Benue and neighboring Taraba and Nasarawa states.
Two freed police officers shared harrowing accounts of their captivity. Inspector John Ngbede of Adamawa State Police, held for 48 days, described how assailants disguised in military uniforms intercepted his vehicle on June 16 near Zaki Biam. Despite paying a ransom of ₦3.5 million ($2,300), his captors delayed his release. Rivers State Inspector Odah Patrick, kidnapped July 14 while traveling for medical care, disclosed paying ₦3 million ($1,970) during his 16-day ordeal. Both emphasized their relief at being freed but raised concerns about abductors exploiting security uniforms to ambush victims.
The raids underscore ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where intercommunal violence and kidnappings have escalated. Authorities report over 3,600 people abducted nationwide in the first half of 2024, with ransom payments fueling the crisis. OPWS, a multi-agency task force active since 2018, continues targeting criminal networks amid calls for improved inter-state coordination to dismantle cross-border kidnapping operations.
