Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued several kidnap victims and thwarted multiple abduction attempts in Plateau and Kaduna states during a series of security operations conducted over the past 48 hours.
The military disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh.
According to the statement, one of the operations took place in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, where troops deployed to Sopp District responded to reports that suspected kidnappers had barricaded the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sayin road in the early hours of June 5.
Upon arrival, soldiers reportedly discovered an abandoned ash-coloured Honda vehicle with registration number APP-93CF in the middle of the highway. A search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched in the surrounding area, leading to the recovery of six passengers who had been abducted by the criminals.
The rescued victims told security personnel that they had boarded the commercial vehicle in Lafia, Nasarawa State, and were travelling to Jos when they were intercepted. While the passengers were successfully rescued, the driver of the vehicle remains unaccounted for.
The military said efforts were ongoing to locate the missing driver and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
In a separate operation in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops reportedly foiled another kidnapping attempt after responding to a distress call from residents of Faggem Village.
The security personnel arrived as the kidnappers were carrying out the operation, forcing the suspects to abandon their victims and flee into a nearby forest.
The intervention resulted in the rescue of a pastor and his wife, who had been taken by the attackers. According to the military, both victims sustained injuries during the incident and were evacuated to a medical facility in Bokkos for treatment.
Troops have since launched a manhunt to track down the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, another rescue mission was carried out in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State after troops received intelligence about armed men blocking a section of the road between Rafi Tagwai and Angwan Dariya.
The troops discovered that passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle had been abducted by the attackers before security forces arrived at the scene.
Military personnel recovered eight empty shells of 7.62mm special ammunition and immediately pursued the kidnappers into a nearby forest.
The operation led to the rescue of two injured passengers, who were later evacuated to a hospital in Fadan Karshi District for medical treatment. Efforts are continuing to secure the release of the remaining victims believed to be in captivity.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity, Operation ENDURING PEACE said it would sustain its offensive against criminal elements operating along highways and within communities across its area of responsibility.
“The general public is urged to remain vigilant and continuously provide timely and actionable intelligence on criminal elements’ activities to security agencies,” the statement said.