Soldiers free two kidnap victims and arrest 11 suspects in Plateau State

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have managed to rescue two kidnapped victims. They also arrested 11 suspected members of a kidnapping group and recovered some weapons in Plateau State.

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

According to the statement, “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 took place in the early hours of Saturday, 19 September 2026. This followed solid intelligence about kidnappers operating in Rayfield and other areas of Jos North Local Government Area. Troops acted on the intelligence by raiding suspected hideouts at Shere, Gwafan, and Maza Hills, resulting in the arrest of 11 suspects.

The operation was further boosted by useful information from two kidnapped victims who were taken from Gwafan Community on 18 September 2026. In the initial investigation, the victims identified three of the arrested suspects as members of the gang that took them,” the statement added.

In another operation, the statement mentioned, “At around 6 pm on 19 September 2026, troops of Sector 3, based in Bassa Local Government Area, acted on strong intelligence. They conducted a cordon-and-search operation that led to the recovery of one locally made rifle and the arrest of a suspect.”

“Troops are now controlling the area to possibly catch more members of the criminal group,” it noted.

The statement also revealed that “troops of Sector 8, deployed in Mangu Local Government Area, carried out a confidence-building patrol along the Tul, Ntam, Angwan Mata, Deng-Deng route.”

During the patrol, the troops arrested a suspect near the Water Board Area. The suspect tried to hide a weapon when he saw the troops.

“A detailed search of the suspect led to the recovery of one locally made automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and one mobile phone,” the statement said. The suspects are now being investigated to uncover more about the group's activities.

The Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Maj-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, praised the troops for their skill and quick reactions during the operations.

The Commander urged them “to keep up the strong approach and maintain the pressure on operations to stop criminals from acting freely in the Joint Operations Area.”

He also thanked the people of Plateau State and other partners for their ongoing support and cooperation.