Troops of Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, in collaboration with the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, have killed two suspected terrorists and rescued three kidnapped victims during a dawn raid on a terrorist camp in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The operation, which lasted from 0300 hours on 16 July to 17 July 2026, saw troops advance from Takum in Taraba State to Tse Togo and Utenge communities across River Yooyo, where the terrorists had established a hideout at Orter Camp.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation WHIRL STROKE, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the troops engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the neutralisation of two terrorists. Three abducted victims were rescued during the operation. They were identified as Mr Nyityo Abraham, a teacher; Mr Uzuegwu Chukwuemeka Decency, a spare parts dealer; and Mr Terhember Tavarshima, a farmer, all from Katsina-Ala LGA. Other captives escaped from the camp during the exchange of fire.
The statement listed items recovered from the camp as one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle with optic sight, one pistol, 19 AK-47 magazines, 181 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 40 rounds of 7.62×51mm ammunition, nine rounds of 7.62mm Tavor ammunition, one Moniepoint POS device, two pairs of desert camouflage uniforms and two pairs of woodland camouflage uniforms.
The Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their resilience and professionalism, vowing to sustain the momentum until the Joint Operations Area is completely rid of terrorists and other criminal elements. He also thanked sister security agencies and local communities for their cooperation.
A military source involved in the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the troops acted on credible intelligence and caught the terrorists off guard. “We moved in at dawn and they had no time to organise any meaningful resistance,” the source said. “The three victims we rescued are in stable condition and have since been reunited with their families.”
A community leader in Katsina-Ala, who also requested anonymity, expressed relief at the operation and urged the military to sustain the pressure. “We have suffered greatly under these terrorists,” he said. “They have been kidnapping our people and demanding huge ransoms. We are grateful to the troops and we hope they will continue to hunt down those who escaped.”
Military authorities have assured residents that operations will be intensified in the coming weeks to flush out remaining criminal elements and restore lasting peace to the affected communities.
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