Troops Foil Kidnap Attempt on Otukpo–Enugu Highway, Rescue Passengers
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, have thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu Expressway in Benue State, rescuing several passengers after a gun duel with suspected kidnappers.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 22, 2025, at about 10:00 p.m., following a distress call that alerted troops on routine patrol to suspicious activities around the Amoda axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
According to military sources, armed criminals had emerged from the bush and temporarily taken over an existing checkpoint on the highway, where they stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State. The assailants reportedly attempted to abduct all passengers on board before the swift intervention of Operation WHIRL STROKE troops.
The troops engaged the kidnappers in a firefight, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee into the surrounding bush. In the initial encounter, 15 passengers were rescued and handed over to the Nigerian Police Division in Otukpo.
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Although six adults and four minors were initially declared missing, follow-up operations led to the rescue of an additional five adults and all four minors. The rescued victims are currently in the custody of the Police Area Command in Otukpo, while search efforts continue to locate the remaining missing passenger.
Reacting to the development, the Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their swift response, courage, and professionalism. He reaffirmed the Task Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property within its Area of Responsibility, which covers Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
Major General Gara stressed that sustained offensive operations, intelligence-driven patrols, and close collaboration with other security agencies would be maintained to deny criminal elements freedom of action across the region.
The Force Commander also extended Christmas and Yuletide greetings to Christian faithful within the Joint Operations Area, praying for peace, mercy, and enduring joy during the festive season. He urged residents to remain united, shun violence, and uphold the values of love, humility, tolerance, and compassion, which he described as essential for peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity beyond the holidays.
By PRNigeria
