By Bashir Adamu, Jalingo
Taraba — Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke, have rescued two kidnapped victims in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The rescue was carried out in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, 2026, following credible intelligence on kidnapping activities in the Lande Jessi general area.
In a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Lt. Umar Muhammad, armed criminals had earlier invaded Tashan Musa and Barkindan Fulani villages, where they abducted two people and made away with food items.
Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, the troops launched a targeted search-and-rescue operation across key locations in the area.
The victims, identified as Mr. Usman Mohammed and Mr. Usman Harusu, were located and freed during the operation. The statement said the two men had been held in captivity for about a week before their rescue. Security sources described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
The Commander, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 OPWS, Brig. Gen. Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commended the troops for their professionalism and swift response.
He said the successful rescue reflects the Nigerian Army’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and aligns with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, NAM, to eliminate criminality and restore peace nationwide.
Brig. Gen. Akaliro reassured residents of the army’s resolve to protect law-abiding citizens and urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies. He also charged the troops to sustain the momentum and deny criminal elements freedom of action within their area of responsibility.
