Gun battle erupts as troops chase kidnappers, rescue two victims in Plateau

Troops of Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, have rescued two persons who were abducted by suspected kidnappers in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This was made known in a post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region.

Makama disclosed that the victims, identified as Victor Ibikuzhu and Tongriang Dayok Salihu, were abducted on Monday night at Kwang village in Jos North and later rescued during a military pursuit operation.

Security sources said troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, responded to a distress call and immediately mobilised to the area alongside personnel of the Keystone security outfit.

The report stated that the security team launched a pursuit operation along routes believed to have been used by the suspected kidnappers.

Makama reported that troops later established contact with the fleeing suspects, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

The suspected kidnappers were said to have abandoned the victims and escaped into nearby bushes after coming under pressure from the security team.

“The kidnappers were said to have abandoned the victims and escaped into nearby bushes following the superior firepower of the troops,” the report quoted the sources as saying.

The two victims were reportedly rescued unharmed and reunited with their families shortly after the operation.

Security sources said efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.