Army, DSS foil abduction plot, arrest suspect collecting N200,000 ransom - Punch Newspapers

Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper while attempting to collect a N200,000 ransom from a female resident in Nasarawa State. The suspect, identified as Mukaila Iliyasu, was arrested at Akwaba in Eggon Local Government Area of the state during a joint security operation conducted by troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS personnel. The arrest followed intelligence reports that Iliyasu had allegedly threatened to abduct a woman unless she paid N200,000. The Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, disclosed this in a Monday statement, saying the DSS alerted the military to the alleged threat on October 29. According to the statement, the information prompted the deployment of a coordinated operation to track down the suspect and prevent the planned abduction.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources To facilitate his arrest, a soldier reportedly went undercover and posed as the individual assigned to deliver the ransom. The statement said, “The suspect was apprehended while collecting the money, with security operatives recovering ₦200,000 believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.” The military described the operation as a successful intelligence-led intervention, noting that it prevented a possible kidnapping. It said the operation also “underscored the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling criminal activities.” Following his arrest, Iliyasu was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution. The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Kolo Gara, praised the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, courage and effective coordination. Gara urged security personnel to sustain their collaboration and strengthen intelligence sharing to tackle kidnapping and other security threats across their areas of responsibility. He also emphasised the need for continued inter-agency cooperation, stating that it was essential to “protect lives, safeguard communities and maintain peace in the region.” Tosin Oyediran Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.

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