Soldiers rescue 24 travellers, foil kidnap attempt

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 travellers after armed men tried to seize passengers from two commercial buses.

Acting Media Information Officer of the operation, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said in a statement on Wednesday that the incident happened at about 10 p.m. on December 22, 2025, near the Amoda axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.

He explained that the attackers emerged from the bush, briefly took over a checkpoint, and stopped two 18-seater buses travelling from Jos to Ibadan.

The troops, responding to a distress call, engaged the suspects, forcing them to abandon the travellers and flee.

Zubairu said 15 passengers were first rescued and handed over to the police in Otukpo, while six adults and four minors were initially declared missing.

Further search operations led to the rescue of five more adults and all four minors, with efforts ongoing to locate the one remaining passenger.

Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their swift action and reaffirmed that intensified patrols and joint operations will continue across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.