Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper and rescued an abducted victim in separate intelligence-led operations across Nasarawa and Benue states.
According to Acting Media Information Officer HQ JTF Operation WHIRL STROKE Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the operations, conducted as part of sustained offensive operations in the Joint Operations Area, underscore the task force’s continued efforts to disrupt criminal networks and protect communities across the North-Central region.
On September 4, 2026, troops of Sector 2, OPWS, arrested a suspected kidnapper identified as Adamu Lamu at Agyaragu, Nasarawa State.
The arrest followed the escape of a 31-year-old kidnapping victim, Mr Nehemiah Elisha, who subsequently spotted one of his alleged abductors at a market in Agyaragu. Elisha promptly alerted troops deployed in the area, prompting an immediate response that led to the suspect’s arrest.
The suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and prosecution.
In a separate operation on September 6, troops of the COAS Intervention Battalion XI, deployed at Torkula in Benue State, rescued another kidnapping victim, Mr Vincent Nyado, along the Umene–Torkula Road.
The troops were conducting a patrol to dominate the area and deter criminal activities when they discovered Nyado tied and abandoned by the roadside.
Preliminary findings indicated that the victim had allegedly been abducted by suspected terrorists. The suspects reportedly fled into the surrounding bushes after sighting the approaching troops, leaving the victim behind.
Nyado was immediately secured and rescued by the troops, while efforts are ongoing to gather further intelligence and track down the fleeing suspects.
The OPWS has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of criminality across its area of responsibility.
The task force also urged troops to remain vigilant and maintain close collaboration with other security agencies and local communities to strengthen ongoing efforts to restore peace and security.
Members of the public were similarly encouraged to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of residents.
