**Nigerian Military Rescues Kidnapped Persons, Seizes Arms in Benue** In a recent operation, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have successfully rescued five kidnapped individuals and recovered arms and ammunition in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The rescue operation was carried out under the command of the Joint Task Force. According to Lieutenant Ahamd Zubairu, the acting media information officer, the rescued individuals include Babaji Muhammad, Sunday Yamusa, Annumba Obunde, Babangida Ibbi, and Doofan Ahula, who were all held captive by kidnappers for varying periods. While one of the victims, Babaji Muhammad, spent 10 days in captivity, another, Doofan Ahula, was held for one month and two days. The operation was part of a broader effort by the Nigerian military to deny criminal elements freedom of action and restore peace in the Joint Operations Area. In a related development, troops acting on intelligence conducted a rapid response operation in Mtam village, where they recovered several items, including six pistols, a Dane gun, and 107 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. The military operation comes on the heels of a courtesy visit by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State. The visit was seen as a boost to the security efforts in the state, which has been grappling with security challenges. Governor Alia commended President Bola Tinubu for supplying the Nigerian Army with modern weapons and equipment to address emerging security threats across the country. The Force Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE, General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain their operational momentum to deal decisively with criminal networks in the region. He also appealed to residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies to aid their efforts in maintaining peace and security.