Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu Expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 passengers and forcing the attackers to flee.
The Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, noting that the incident occurred at about 10:00pm on December 22, 2025.
He said troops on routine patrol responded swiftly to a distress call at the Amoda axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the assailants emerged from the bush, briefly overran an existing checkpoint and stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State.
Zubairu said the criminals attempted to abduct the passengers, but the timely intervention of OPWS troops led to a gun battle, forcing the attackers to abandon the victims and escape into the surrounding bush.
He explained that 15 passengers were initially rescued and handed over to the Nigerian Police Division in Otukpo, while six adults and four minors were initially reported missing.
He added that follow-up search operations resulted in the rescue of five more adults and all four minors, who are currently in the custody of the Police Area Command in Otukpo.
Zubairu said efforts are still ongoing to locate the remaining missing passengers.
Reacting to the incident, the Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their swift response and professionalism, while reaffirming the task force’s commitment to protecting lives and property within its operational area.
Gara assured that sustained offensive operations, intelligence-driven patrols and continued collaboration with other security agencies would be maintained to deny criminal elements freedom of action across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
