Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, have foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu Expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 passengers from armed assailants.
The incident occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, 2025, after troops on routine patrol received a distress call and swiftly moved to the Amoda axis in Ohimini Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Acting Media Information Officer of the task force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, said the armed suspects emerged from the bush and briefly took over an existing checkpoint on the highway.
According to the statement, the attackers stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State, and attempted to abduct all the passengers.
“The timely intervention of troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE led to a firefight, which forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee into the bush,” Zubairu said.
He explained that 15 passengers were initially rescued and handed over to the Nigerian Police Division in Otukpo. However, six adults and four minors were at first reported missing.
Further search-and-rescue operations later led to the recovery of five additional adults and all four minors, who have since been handed over to the Police Area Command in Otukpo. Efforts are ongoing to locate one remaining passenger.
Reacting to the development, the Force Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their swift response and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to protecting lives and property across its area of responsibility, which covers Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, noting that sustained offensive operations and intelligence-driven patrols would continue.
Major General Gara also extended Christmas and Yuletide greetings to residents of the joint operations area, urging them to remain united, shun violence and uphold the values of peace, tolerance and compassion during the festive season and beyond.