By Joy Odor, Abuja
In a decisive operation that showcased speed, precision, and coordination, troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke, have rescued a kidnapped victim, Alhaji Ali Adamu, in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State without paying a dime in ransom.
The rescue, carried out under the ongoing Operation Lafiya Nakowa, followed a midnight distress call reporting Adamu’s abduction while he slept outside his compound on 29 October 2025.
Responding with tactical urgency, the troops launched a hot pursuit of the kidnappers through the rugged terrain of Lau. Realizing they were being encircled, the abductors abandoned their captive and fled into nearby forests, leaving behind no trace of resistance.
Adamu was immediately reunited with his family alive, unhurt, and free.
In a related breakthrough, local vigilantes and hunters operating around Maraban Kunini apprehended a suspected kidnapper identified as Mr. Lalau Adamu (30), believed to be connected to the same abduction.
By the time troops arrived, the suspect had already suffered injuries from mob justice.
Acting swiftly, the soldiers intervened to prevent his lynching, evacuating him under military protection to a medical facility for treatment and interrogation.
Commander of the 6 Brigade / Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, praised the seamless collaboration between troops, vigilantes, and community hunters, describing it as “the new model of citizen-driven security coordination.”
“This success shows what’s possible when citizens and the military act as one. We urge residents to continue providing timely and credible information. Together, we will make Taraba unlivable for criminals,” Uwa declared.
The operation, part of an intensified security sweep across Taraba State, underscores the Nigerian Army’s renewed determination to flush out bandits, kidnappers, and violent gangs threatening communities under the Lafiya Nakowa mandate.
Army spokesperson Lt. Umar Muhammad, in a statement, reaffirmed that the military remains unwavering in its mission to restore law and order across Taraba and beyond.
“The Nigerian Army will sustain its offensive operations to ensure that every citizen can live, farm, and trade without fear. There will be no safe haven for criminals,” the statement read.
As Operation Lafiya Nakowa gains momentum, military analysts note that the success in Lau signals a strategic tightening of security architecture across Taraba’s high-risk corridors, a message that Nigeria’s armed forces are not only responding but taking the fight to the enemy’s doorstep.
