Troops of Sector 1 under Operation Whirl Stroke of the Nigerian Army have successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued three victims along the Enugu–Otukpo Road in Enugu State, military authorities say.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, the incident occurred on February 25, 2026 when soldiers deployed at the Forward Operation Base in Otukpo received credible intelligence during a night patrol that an 18-seater Benue Links bus (registration TYK 221 YK) had been seized by suspected kidnappers.
The vehicle was reportedly carrying four passengers and a minor when the attackers struck. Acting swiftly on the information, the troops mobilised and trailed the kidnappers along their withdrawal route, prompting the criminals to abandon three of their victims.
No direct combat was reported during the pursuit, and the rescued victims were recovered safely. Security forces also recovered a mobile phone believed to belong to the kidnappers at the scene.
The Force Commander commended the troops for their “resilience, vigilance and operational efficiency,” saying the swift response prevented what could have become a major security breach. Road users were advised to stay alert, report suspicious activities to nearest security posts, and be cautious, especially in isolated stretches of highways.
The rescue follows other recent successful operations in the region, including efforts by security forces to thwart similar abduction attempts and recover abducted passengers, underscoring ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping along major routes in southeastern Nigeria.
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