Plateau State kidnapping – The Trumpet Newspaper Nigeria

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued two kidnapped victims in separate operations in Bassa and Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau State as the military intensifies efforts to disrupt the activities of suspected terrorists and other criminal elements in the state.

Key Highlights:

• Military troops rescued two kidnapped victims in separate operations in Plateau State.
• One victim, Ndubuisi Onuigbo, was rescued in Bassa Local Government Area.
• Troops recovered another kidnap victim, Mallam Sambo Abdullahi, after a gunfight with suspected terrorists in Kanam.
• Both victims have been debriefed and reunited with their families.
• The military urged residents to remain vigilant and support ongoing security operations.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the Joint Task Force Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said troops of Sector 3 deployed in Bassa Local Government Area rescued Onuigbo following a search-and-rescue operation.

According to Oteh, the troops launched the operation at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, after receiving credible information about the victim’s abduction.

Read Also:

He said the operation led to the safe rescue of Onuigbo, who was subsequently taken into military custody for debriefing before being reunited with his family.

In a separate operation in Kanam Local Government Area, troops of Sector 2 deployed at Kukawa village reportedly encountered suspected terrorists during a fighting patrol in the early hours of Wednesday.

The troops engaged the suspects and pursued them as they fled the area. During the operation, the suspected terrorists abandoned a kidnapped victim identified as Mallam Sambo Abdullahi, who was rescued by the soldiers.

The military said Abdullahi was also debriefed and later reunited with his family.

The Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for what he described as their professionalism and decisive action in disrupting criminal activities across the joint operations area.

Dangana urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while continuing to support security agencies operating across Plateau State.

He said sustained cooperation from local communities would strengthen ongoing military efforts to disrupt criminal networks, protect residents and restore lasting peace and security in the state.

The latest operations form part of continuing military efforts to deny suspected terrorists and other criminal groups freedom of movement and prevent further attacks and kidnappings across Plateau State.