Operation Whirl Stroke Arrests Suspected Kidnapper, Rescues Abducted Victim In Nasarawa, Benue
Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have arrested a suspected kidnapper in Nasarawa State and rescued a kidnapped victim in Benue State in two separate intelligence-driven operations.
According to a statement on Saturday by the Acting Media Information Officer, HQ JTF Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the operations were conducted across the Joint Operations Area to stem criminal activities in the North-Central region.
Zubairu said on 4 September 2026, troops of Sector 2 arrested a suspected kidnapper identified as Adamu Lamu at Agyaragu in Nasarawa State.
He said the arrest followed the escape of one of the victims of the syndicate, 31-year-old Nehemiah Elisha, who sighted one of his alleged abductors at a market in Agyaragu and immediately alerted troops deployed in the area.
“The arrested suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and necessary legal action,” the statement said.
In a separate incident on 6 September 2026 at about 10:07 am, troops of COAS Intervention Battalion XI deployed at Torkula conducted a patrol to dominate the general area and prevent criminal activities.
“During the operation, troops rescued a kidnapped victim, identified as Mr Vincent Nyado, along the Umene–Torkula Road. The victim was found tied and abandoned by the roadside,” Zubairu said.
He said preliminary information revealed that Nyado was allegedly abducted by suspected terrorists who fled into surrounding bushes on sighting troops, abandoning their victim.
The rescued victim has been secured while efforts are ongoing to obtain further information and track the fleeing suspects.
Operation Whirl Stroke said it remains resolute in its mandate and charged troops to maintain momentum, remain vigilant and sustain close cooperation with other security agencies and local communities, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information.
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