Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued two kidnapped victims in Plateau State and intercepted a suspected gun runner in Kaduna State as part of ongoing operations to rid their Joint Operations Area of criminal elements.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), troops deployed at Wase successfully rescued two victims around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The troops, who were conducting an aggressive fighting patrol in the area, reportedly made contact with suspected kidnappers while the criminals were conveying the victims to their hideouts. On sighting the troops, the kidnappers abandoned the victims and fled into nearby bushes.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted at gunpoint on 22 February 2026 from Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The rescued individuals have since been debriefed, while efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families. Troops have also intensified combing operations in the surrounding bushes to apprehend the fleeing suspects and possibly rescue other abducted victims.
In a related development, troops of OPEP deployed at Sanga in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State intercepted a suspected gun runner during a stop-and-search operation at Kurmin Goro village.
The 36-year-old suspect, identified as Vincent Ibrahim, was apprehended while allegedly transporting five fabricated rifles to an undisclosed destination in Kafanchan. He is currently in military custody undergoing interrogation.
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, commended the troops for their alertness and swift response. He reassured residents across the affected states of the military’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and sustaining offensive operations against criminal elements.
