Troops foil kidnapping attempts, rescue victims in Plateau, Kaduna

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By Kingsley Omonobi

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JOS — Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have foiled multiple kidnapping attempts and rescued several victims during coordinated operations across Plateau and Kaduna states in the past 48 hours.

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Military authorities said the operations also led to ongoing manhunts for fleeing armed suspects involved in the incidents.

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According to the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Polycarp Oteh, the operations demonstrate the military’s continued commitment to securing highways and communities within the joint operational area.

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In Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops of Sector 6 deployed in Sopp District responded to reports of suspected kidnappers blocking the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sayin highway at about 12:30 a.m. on June 5, 2026.

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On arrival, troops discovered an ash-coloured Honda vehicle abandoned on the road. A search-and-rescue operation in surrounding bushes led to the rescue of six kidnapped passengers.

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The victims reportedly told security operatives they boarded the vehicle in Lafia, Nasarawa State, en route to Jos before they were abducted.

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The driver of the vehicle remains missing, while search efforts are ongoing.

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In a separate operation in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops of Sector 5 responded to a distress call from Faggem Village on June 5, 2026, and foiled an attempted abduction.

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The attackers reportedly fled into a nearby forest following military pressure, abandoning their victims.

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Troops rescued a pastor and his wife, who sustained injuries during the attack, and evacuated them to Bokkos Medical Clinic for treatment. A manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.

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In Kaduna State, troops of Sector 7 deployed at Ungwan Gora in Sanga Local Government Area responded in the early hours of Saturday, June 6, 2026, to reports of armed men blocking the highway between Rafi Tagwai and Angwan Dariya.

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On arrival, troops found that passengers in a commercial vehicle had been abducted. Eight empty shells of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered at the scene.

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Troops immediately launched a pursuit operation into the forest, rescuing two injured passengers, while efforts continue to rescue other abducted victims.

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The rescued individuals were evacuated to a hospital in Fadan Karshi for medical attention.

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The Operation Enduring Peace Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustained operations against criminal elements and urged residents to provide timely and credible intelligence to support ongoing security efforts.

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