The Nigerian Army reported that Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) troops successfully rescued 12 individuals who had been kidnapped while traveling from Imo to Adamawa states.

The army said the victims were rescued on Wednesday at Jootar village in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to the commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, the kidnappers took advantage of an abandoned Federal Police Highway checkpoint.

“In a recent operation, following credible human intelligence on the activities of kidnappers, troops of Sector 1 OPWS, on February 21, 2024, at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State, rescued 12 kidnapped victims who were in transit from Imo State to Adamawa State.

“On sighting the aggressive troops of OPWS with superior firepower, kidnappers fled, leaving behind their victims,” he said.

Igbinomwanhia said that an 18-seater bus belonging to Taraba Express International with registration number GKA-371XA was recovered from the kidnapper’s den and towed to the troop’s location.

The rescued victims include Mr Sule Abu, 55, Mrs Ashie Shuaibu, 26, Master Suleiman Abdullahi, 3, Mrs Zainab Salau, 35, Mr Muritala Yussuf, 22, Mrs Zainab Saidu, 45, Mr Hammed Mamud, 51, Mr Usman Ali, 27, Mr Nura Abubakar, 24, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, 20, Mrs Felicia Asusi, 29, and Mr Jacob Nathaniel, 22.