Soldiers rescue two kidnap victims, arrest 11 suspects in Plateau

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapped victims, arrested 11 suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered weapons during separate operations in Plateau State.

The operations were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Oteh.

“Troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, Operation Enduring Peace, deployed at Lamingo, have successfully rescued two kidnapped victims, arrested 11 suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered weapons during separate operations conducted within the Joint Operations Area of Plateau State.

“The operation, conducted in the early hours of Saturday, 19 September 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities of kidnappers operating within the Rayfield and other parts of Jos North Local Government Area. Acting on the intelligence, troops raided suspected criminal hideouts at Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills, resulting in the arrest of 11 suspects.

“The operation was further enhanced by the timely exploitation of intelligence obtained from two kidnapped victims who had been abducted from Gwafan Community on 18 September 2026. During preliminary investigation, the victims positively identified 3 of the arrested suspects as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction,” the statement partly read.

In another operation, the statement said, “At about 6 pm on 19 September 2026, troops of Sector 3, deployed in Bassa Local Government Area, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a cordon-and-search operation which led to the recovery of one locally fabricated rifle and arrest of a suspect.”

“Troops are currently dominating the general area to possibly apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate,” it said.

Similarly, the statement disclosed that “troops of Sector 8, deployed in Mangu Local Government Area, conducted a confidence-building patrol along the Tul–Ntam–Angwan Mata–Deng-Deng axis.”

During the patrol, the statement noted that the troops arrested a suspected criminal around the Water Board Area who attempted to conceal a weapon upon sighting the troops.

“A thorough search of the suspect led to the recovery of one locally fabricated automatic weapon, 9 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one mobile phone,” the statement noted, adding that the suspects are undergoing investigation to unravel the syndicate’s activities.

The Commander, Operation Enduring Peace, Maj-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for their professionalism, dexterity and timely response during the operations.

The Commander charged them “to sustain the aggressive posture and maintain the momentum of the operation to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.”

He also appreciated the continued support and cooperation of the people of Plateau State and other relevant stakeholders.