Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE (JTF OPEP) have neutralised a suspected kidnapper during an offensive operation against criminal elements in Kaduna State, as security forces intensified efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks across the area.
Confirming the report,Acting Military Information Officer JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Joshua Atu John said the operation, conducted under Operation PEACE SHIELD, targeted a known kidnappers’ hideout in Jagindi Kagom village, Jema’a Local Government Area. It was carried out on 2 January 2026 by troops of Sector 7, acting on credible intelligence.
According to military sources, the troops engaged the criminals during a clearance operation, resulting in the neutralisation of one suspect, later identified as Dahiru Adamu Barka, while other members of the gang fled the area. Security forces have since launched a manhunt to track down the fleeing suspects and ensure their arrest.
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General EF Oyinlola, commended the troops for their professionalism and success, describing the operation as part of sustained efforts to eliminate all forms of criminality within the Joint Operations Area. He also called on residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining sustained pressure on criminal groups and ensuring the safety and security of law-abiding citizens across Kaduna State and the wider Joint Operations Area.
