Troops foil kidnap attempt on Enugu–Otukpo highway, rescue three

Troops attached to Sector 1 of Operation Whirl Stroke have thwarted an attempted abduction along the Enugu–Otukpo highway, securing the release of three passengers.

The incident 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 operation followed credible intelligence received on 25 February 2026 during a routine night patrol by personnel stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Otukpo. The alert indicated that suspected kidnappers had intercepted an 18-seater Benue Links bus, registration number TYK 221 YK.

The bus was reportedly carrying four adult passengers and a minor when it was ambushed.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the troops mobilised to the scene and trailed the kidnappers along their withdrawal route,” the statement read.

The statement added that the rapid deployment of soldiers “forced the criminals to abandon three of the victims,” stressing that “no direct contact was made during the pursuit.”

Security personnel also recovered “one mobile phone believed to belong to the kidnappers” at the location.

The Force Commander praised the troops for their “resilience, vigilance, and operational efficiency in preventing what could have escalated into a major security breach.”

He urged motorists to remain watchful while travelling, advising them to “be cautious to observe unusual absence of vehicular movement within a two-kilometre stretch and pause to assess the situation where necessary,” and to promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest security formation to aid swift intervention.