Operation Whirl Stroke sustains offensive, arrests suspected kidnapper, rescues victim
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), have sustained intelligence-driven operations across their Joint Operations Area, leading to the arrest of a suspected kidnapper and the rescue of an abducted victim in separate operations in Nasarawa and Benue states.
In Nasarawa State, troops of Sector 2, OPWS, on Sept. 4, arrested a suspected kidnapper identified as Adamu Lamu at Agyaragu.
The arrest followed the escape of one of the alleged kidnapping syndicate’s victims, identified as 31-year-old Nehemiah Elisha.
According to preliminary information, Elisha, after escaping from his abductors, sighted one of the suspected kidnappers at a market in Agyaragu and alerted troops deployed in the area.
The troops swiftly responded and apprehended Lamu, who was subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and legal action.
In a separate operation in Benue State, troops of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion XI, deployed at Torkula, rescued a kidnapped victim along the Umene-Torkula Road at about 10:07 a.m. on Sept. 6.
The troops were conducting a patrol to dominate the area and prevent criminal activities when they discovered the victim, identified as Vincent Nyado, tied and abandoned by the roadside.
Preliminary information indicated that Nyado had allegedly been abducted by suspected terrorists. The abductors reportedly fled into the surrounding bushes upon sighting the approaching troops, abandoning their victim.
The rescued victim was secured by the troops, while efforts are ongoing to obtain further information that could assist in identifying and apprehending the fleeing suspects.
The OPWS command said the task force remained resolute in its mandate to curb violence across the North-Central region and Taraba State, directing troops to sustain intelligence-led operations and cooperation with other security agencies and local communities.
It also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities and improve security across the region.
