Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued 27 passengers abducted in Amoda community, Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, after storming the kidnappers’ hideout in a daring late-night raid. The coordinated assault overpowered the gunmen and led to the safe recovery of all victims, the Nigerian Army confirmed on Monday, August 25, 2025.
The breakthrough in Benue formed part of wider counter-terrorism and anti-crime operations carried out simultaneously across several states, in which the Army reported killing 15 terrorists, arresting 42 criminal suspects, and freeing 30 kidnapped victims nationwide.
In the North East, troops engaged Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in fierce battles across Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Banki, and Gujba. At least 15 insurgents were neutralized in those encounters, with soldiers recovering rifles, grenades, explosives, motorcycles, and sophisticated communication devices used by the militants.
Elsewhere, security operatives intensified crackdowns on organised crime. In Kaduna, 15 suspects were arrested for drug trafficking, while another 25 individuals were apprehended in Bayelsa for large-scale oil theft. The Army disclosed that in Delta State, two men were caught attempting to aid kidnappers.
In the South South, troops destroyed multiple illegal crude oil bunkering sites spread across Imo, Rivers, and Delta, dealing a major blow to the billion-naira oil theft economy that has continued to drain national revenue and fuel environmental devastation.
Military officials hailed the Benue rescue as particularly significant, given the surge in abductions along rural highways in North Central Nigeria. Analysts say the success demonstrates growing coordination between ground troops and intelligence units, though communities continue to demand faster response times to prevent abductions in the first place.
The Army assured Nigerians that its operations will intensify in the coming weeks, vowing to sustain pressure on terrorists, bandits, and criminal networks nationwide. “No part of the country will be a safe haven for criminal elements,” a statement from Defence Headquarters read. “The Nigerian Army remains committed to defending lives and restoring peace.”
