Nigerian Army and DSS stop kidnap attempt, arrest ransom collector

Troops from the Nigerian Army, teaming up with the Department of State Services (DSS), have caught a suspected kidnapper while he was trying to collect a N200,000 ransom from a woman in Nasarawa State.

The suspect is Mukaila Iliyasu. He was arrested at Akwaba in the Eggon Local Government Area. This happened during a joint operation by troops from Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS personnel.

The arrest came after intelligence reports showed that Iliyasu had threatened to kidnap a woman if she did not pay him N200,000.

Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, shared this news in a statement on Monday. He mentioned that the DSS informed the military about the threat on October 29.

This information led to a coordinated operation to catch the suspect and stop the planned kidnapping.

To help with the arrest, a soldier went undercover. He acted as the person who was to deliver the ransom.

The statement said, “The suspect was caught while collecting the money, with security operatives recovering ₦200,000 believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.”

The military called this operation a success. They said it was an intelligence-led effort that stopped a possible kidnapping.

They also mentioned that it showed how important it is for security agencies to work together against crime.

After his arrest, Iliyasu was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Major General Moses Kolo Gara, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and the General Officer Commanding 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, praised the troops and DSS operatives. He recognized their professionalism, courage, and good teamwork.

Gara encouraged security officers to keep working together and improve intelligence sharing. This is important for dealing with kidnappings and other security problems in their areas.

He also highlighted the need for ongoing cooperation between agencies. He said this is crucial to “protect lives, safeguard communities and maintain peace in the region.”