An escaped kidnapping victim has helped security forces track down and arrest a suspected member of a kidnapping gang in Nasarawa State, while troops separately rescued another abducted victim in Benue State.
The operations were carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes across the North-Central region.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Media Information Officer of the task force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, troops of Sector Two arrested a suspected kidnapper identified as Adamu Lamu at Agyaragu, Nasarawa State.
Lamu’s arrest followed information from Nehemiah Elisha, who had previously escaped from his abductors.
Elisha reportedly encountered one of the men he suspected of being involved in his abduction at a market in Agyaragu. He immediately alerted troops stationed in the area, prompting security personnel to move in and arrest the suspect.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In a separate operation in Benue State on September 6, troops of COAS Intervention Battalion XI rescued Vincent Nyado along the Umene-Torkula Road.
Nyado was reportedly found tied and abandoned by the roadside after his alleged abductors fled into nearby bushes when they noticed the approaching troops.
Security personnel secured the victim and commenced efforts to gather further intelligence that could lead to the identification and arrest of the fleeing suspects.
Operation WHIRL STROKE said the operations demonstrate the importance of timely information from members of the public in disrupting criminal activities.
The task force urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies while directing its troops to sustain intelligence-led operations and strengthen collaboration with communities and other security agencies.
