Nigerian soldiers swiftly rescued Mrs. Iloda Ayinba after suspected herdsmen kidnapped her on her way to the farm in Taraba State.
Troops from Sub-Sector 3B of Operation Whirl Stroke launched a rapid response on December 12, 2025, and successfully freed a kidnapped woman in Takum Local Government Area.
The soldiers, stationed at Kufai Amadu, received critical intelligence around 1:13 p.m. that day about the abduction in Torikegha village, Chanchanji Ward.
They immediately mobilized and arrived at the scene, where locals confirmed that Mrs. Iloda Ayinba, a resident of the village, had fallen into the hands of suspected herdsmen while heading to her farmland.
Determined to thwart the kidnappers, the troops pursued the suspects along their escape route.
They then conducted an extensive search of the surrounding bush, extending operations to the power line corridor linking Taraba and Benue states.
Under intense military pressure, the kidnappers abandoned Mrs. Ayinba in the bush and fled the area.
The soldiers located and rescued her unharmed, with no direct contact made with the suspects.
This successful operation shows the ongoing efforts of Operation Whirl Stroke to combat kidnappings and banditry in Taraba’s border regions, where farmer-herder tensions often fuel such incidents.
Security sources praised the troops’ swift action, which prevented a potentially prolonged hostage situation.
Mrs. Ayinba has since reunited with her family, marking another victory for Nigerian forces in protecting civilians amid persistent security threats in the North-East and Middle Belt regions.
