Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued two kidnapped victims in Plateau State and intercepted a suspected gun runner in Kaduna State, in separate operations aimed at curbing criminal activities within their Joint Operations Area.
In a statement Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh said the rescue operation was carried out by troops deployed in Wase, who were conducting an aggressive fighting patrol around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to military sources, the troops made contact with suspected kidnappers while the victims were being transported to a hideout. The assailants reportedly abandoned the captives and fled into nearby bushes upon sighting the advancing soldiers.
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 continued combing the surrounding forested areas to apprehend the fleeing suspects and potentially rescue other victims.
In a related development, troops deployed in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State intercepted a suspected gun runner during a stop-and-search operation at Kurmin Goro village. The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Vincent Ibrahim, was allegedly conveying five locally fabricated rifles to an undisclosed destination in Kafanchan when he was apprehended. He is currently in military custody and undergoing interrogation.
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, commended the troops for their vigilance and swift response. He reassured residents of the military’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the operational area.
