Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu Expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 passengers heading to Ibadan, Oyo State.
The passengers were travelling in two 18-seater commercial buses from Jos, Plateau State, when the incident occurred on Monday night.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Makurdi in the early hours of Wednesday, the Acting Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, said the operation followed a distress call received at about 10:00 p.m. on December 22, 2025.
According to him, troops on routine patrol swiftly mobilised to the Amoda axis in Ohimini Local Government Area, where armed criminals had emerged from the bush and briefly taken over an existing checkpoint.
The statement read in part, “The armed criminals had emerged from the bush and briefly occupied an existing checkpoint.
The assailants subsequently stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State, and attempted to abduct all passengers.
“However, the timely intervention of troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE led to a firefight that compelled the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee into the bush.”
Zubairu said 15 passengers were initially rescued and handed over to the Nigerian Police Division in Otukpo, while six adults and four minors were at first declared missing.
He added that further search and rescue operations led to the recovery of an additional five adults and all four minors.
The rescued victims are now in the custody of the Police Area Command, Otukpo, while efforts continue to locate the remaining missing passenger.
Commending the troops for their swift response and professionalism, the Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, praised their dedication to duty.
Gara reaffirmed the commitment of the task force to the protection of lives and property within its area of responsibility through sustained offensive operations, intelligence-driven patrols, and close collaboration with other security agencies.
The force commander also extended Yuletide greetings to Christian faithful in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, praying for peace, mercy and joy during the season.
He urged residents to remain united, shun violence and uphold the virtues of love, humility, tolerance and compassion, stressing that these values are essential for peaceful coexistence during and beyond the festive period.
Operation Whirl Stroke has recorded a series of successes in recent months in its campaign against banditry and other criminal activities across the three states.
In November, troops of the operation arrested three suspected armed criminals around Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.