Troops rescue 10 as kidnappers flee Plateau, Kaduna

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued 10 kidnap victims and foiled multiple abduction attempts, including the kidnapping of a pastor and his wife, during coordinated operations in Plateau and Kaduna states.

The Joint Military Task Force disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesman, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh.

According to the military, the operations were carried out within the last 48 hours as part of ongoing efforts to secure communities and major highways within the task force’s area of responsibility.

In one of the operations, troops deployed to Sopp District in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State responded to reports of suspected kidnappers who had blocked the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sayin road in the early hours of June 5.

On arrival, soldiers found an abandoned ash-coloured Honda vehicle in the middle of the road and immediately launched a search-and-rescue mission in nearby bushes.

The operation led to the rescue of six passengers who had been abducted while travelling from Lafia in Nasarawa State to Jos.

The military, however, said the driver of the vehicle remains missing, adding that efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue him.

In a separate operation in Bokkos Local Government Area, troops responded to a distress call from Faggem Village and disrupted an ongoing kidnap attempt.

The intervention forced the attackers to abandon their victims and flee into a nearby forest.

The troops subsequently rescued a pastor and his wife, who sustained injuries during the attack and were evacuated to a medical facility in Bokkos for treatment.

The military said a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, troops operating in Ungwan Gora, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, also responded to reports of armed men blocking the highway between Rafi Tagwai and Angwan Dariya.

The soldiers discovered that some passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle had been kidnapped and immediately pursued the attackers into a nearby forest.

During the operation, troops recovered eight empty cases of 7.62mm special ammunition and successfully rescued two injured passengers.

The rescued victims were taken to a hospital in Fadan Karshi District for medical treatment, while efforts continue to secure the release of other abducted passengers.

Captain Oteh said the successful operations demonstrate the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminal elements no longer find safe havens within communities and along major highways.

He reaffirmed that Operation Enduring Peace would sustain aggressive operations against kidnappers and other criminal groups threatening security in Plateau, Kaduna and neighbouring states.