Troops thwart kidnap plot on Enugu-Otukpo road, rescue victims

Abdullateef Fowewe

Troops from Sector 1 under Operation WHIRL STROKE have foiled a brazen kidnapping attempt along the Enugu–Otukpo Road on February 25, 2026, rescuing three victims without any casualties or direct confrontation with the suspects.

The operation unfolded during a night patrol by troops at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Otukpo.

They received “credible information that an 18-seater Benue Links bus with registration number TYK 221 YK had been seized by suspected kidnappers,” the Nigerian Army statement detailed.

The bus was carrying four passengers and a minor at the time of the attack.

Acting on the tip, the troops swiftly mobilised and tracked the kidnappers’ withdrawal route.

Their rapid response “forced the criminals to abandon three of the victims,” according to the statement.

No shots were fired, but soldiers recovered “one mobile phone believed to belong to the kidnappers” at the scene.

The Force Commander praised the troops’ professionalism, stating they demonstrated “resilience, vigilance, and operational efficiency in preventing what could have escalated into a major security breach.”

He urged road users to stay alert, advising motorists to “be cautious to observe unusual absence of vehicular movement within a two-kilometre stretch and pause to assess the situation where necessary.”

Drivers were also encouraged to “promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security outpost to enhance rapid response.”