Troops Thwart Kidnap Attempt on Otukpo-Enugu Highway, Rescue 24 Passengers

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have prevented a kidnapping on the Otukpo-Enugu Expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 passengers and forcing the attackers to flee.

The Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, said the operation was launched following a distress call about suspicious activity near the Amoda axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.

According to Lt. Zubairu, armed assailants emerged from the bush around 10 p.m., briefly taking control of a checkpoint along the highway. They intercepted two 18-seater commercial buses traveling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State, and attempted to abduct the passengers. The troops responded quickly, engaging the kidnappers in a firefight that forced them to abandon their victims.

Initial efforts led to the rescue of 15 passengers, who were handed over to the Nigerian Police Division in Otukpo. Six adults and four minors were initially unaccounted for, but subsequent operations resulted in the rescue of five additional adults and all four minors, now in police custody. Search operations continue for one remaining passenger.

The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their swift and professional response. He reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to public safety, emphasizing continued intelligence-led patrols and coordination with other security agencies to prevent criminal activity in the region.

Major General Gara also extended Christmas greetings to residents in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states, urging unity and peaceful coexistence during the festive season.