Operation Whirl Stroke rescues five minors from traffickers at Nasarawa park

In a swift operation, troops from Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) successfully rescued five minors from a suspected human trafficker and kidnapper at Shendam in Plateau State. The suspect, identified as 17-year-old Samuel Ottuh from Akwa-Ibom State, was apprehended by OPWS.

Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, the OPWS Commander, revealed the details while presenting the suspected kidnapper to journalists at the Tactical Air Command NAF Base in Makurdi, Benue State. According to Igbinomwanhia, the troops acted on credible intelligence, arresting the suspect just as he was about to flee with the kidnapped minors.

The trafficking cartel’s kingpin managed to escape upon spotting the troops, leaving Samuel, who is currently in custody. The five rescued minors, comprising two boys and three girls aged between 2 and 5 years, were unable to provide details about their communities or parents.

The suspect, Samuel, confessed to the crime, stating that he worked for an Abuja-based woman named Mrs. Tina Nkechi. He admitted that the children were stolen in Shendam, Plateau State, with the intention of transporting them to Abuja before their plans were thwarted at a park in Nasarawa State.

Commander OPWS, Igbinomwanhia, revealed that Samuel disclosed the syndicate’s modus operandi, explaining how they lived in the community for an extended period as tenants, familiarizing themselves with community members and parents of the kidnapped children to avoid suspicion before executing their criminal act.

The rescued children have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). In response, the State coordinator of NAPTIP, represented by the head of operations, Felix Akperaga, stated that the agency would conduct an investigation to apprehend the main suspects and identify the parents of the rescued children.