Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Benue State — Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu Expressway late Monday night, rescuing 24 passengers from what security sources described as an imminent mass abduction by armed bandits. The action, carried out in the Amoda area of Ohimini Local Government Area, underscores ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army to safeguard lives and maintain security along high-risk transportation routes in the North-Central region.
According to the official statement released by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Information Officer of OPWS, the incident unfolded at approximately 10:00 p.m. on 22 December 2025, when troops on routine patrol received a distress call about armed criminals who had emerged from the bush and briefly taken over an existing checkpoint on the expressway. The assailants reportedly stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos in Plateau State to Ibadan in Oyo State, and attempted to abduct all the passengers on board.
In response, the OPWS forces mobilised swiftly to the scene, engaging the kidnappers in a firefight that forced the criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the surrounding forest. The timely intervention prevented the abduction and likely saved numerous lives, security officials said.
In the initial phase of the rescue, troops secured the release of 15 passengers, who were handed over to the Nigerian Police Division in Otukpo. In a subsequent operation, the remaining five adults and all four minors originally reported missing were also freed and placed in the custody of the Police Area Command in Otukpo, while search efforts continue for any other persons believed to be unaccounted for from the scene.
The commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, praised the professionalism and swift response of his troops, reaffirming OPWS’s commitment to protecting lives and property across its area of responsibility — which includes Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states. In remarks accompanying the statement, Gen. Gara extended Yuletide greetings to Christian faithful in the region, urging residents to remain united, shun violence and uphold the virtues of peace, humility and compassion during the festive season.
The success of this operation highlights ongoing challenges along key highways in Nigeria, where criminal groups frequently target travellers for ransom and abduction. It also reflects the intensified focus of joint security operations on intelligence-led patrols and rapid reaction capabilities that have become central to counter-kidnapping strategies in the region.
As the holiday travel period continues and security agencies remain vigilant, the operation stands as a significant example of coordinated military action preventing a potentially deadly abduction and reinforcing government efforts to protect citizens against banditry and highway crime.
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