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Troops under Sector 1 of Operation Whirl Stroke of the Nigerian Army have thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Enugu-Otukpo Road, rescuing three victims.
This was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on February 25, 2026, when troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Otukpo received intelligence during a night patrol that an 18-seater Benue Links bus, with registration number TYK 221 YK, had been hijacked by suspected kidnappers. The vehicle was reportedly carrying four passengers and a minor at the time.
The troops were said to have responded immediately, tracking the suspects along their escape route. Their rapid intervention forced the kidnappers to abandon three of the victims, although there was no direct confrontation during the pursuit. Security operatives also recovered a mobile phone believed to belong to the suspects at the scene.
The Force Commander praised the troops for their alertness and effectiveness, noting that their actions prevented what could have escalated into a major security incident.
He also urged motorists to remain vigilant while travelling, advising them to be wary of unusual gaps in traffic over short distances and to report suspicious activities promptly to nearby security formations.
The rescue comes days after troops of the Joint Task Force in the South-East responded to a distress call along the 9th Mile axis in Enugu, where five travellers were freed after security forces engaged suspected attackers and forced them to flee.
