Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have foiled multiple kidnapping attempts and rescued several victims in coordinated operations carried out across Plateau and Kaduna states within the last 48 hours.
The military said the operations also triggered ongoing manhunts for fleeing criminal elements responsible for the attacks.
The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE and made available to journalists on Sunday in Jos.
The statement said the successful interventions demonstrated the military’s commitment to safeguarding lives and securing highways and communities within its operational area.
“In Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops of Sector 6 deployed in Sopp District responded to reports of suspected kidnappers who blocked the highway along the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sayin axis at approximately 12:30am of 5 June 2026.
Upon arrival at the scene, the tactical team discovered an ash-coloured Honda vehicle with registration number APP-93CF abandoned in the middle of the road.
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Troops immediately launched a thorough search and rescue operation in the surrounding bushes. This rapid response led to the successful rescue of six kidnapped passengers. The rescued individuals revealed that they had boarded the commercial vehicle from Lafia, Nasarawa State, and were bound for Jos, while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the missing driver”; the statement said.
The statement further disclosed that troops of Sector 5 in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State thwarted another kidnapping attempt after responding to a distress call from Faggem Village. The troops reportedly forced the kidnappers to flee into a nearby forest and successfully rescued a pastor and his wife who had been abducted during the attack.
According to the military, the couple sustained injuries during the assault and were immediately evacuated to the Bokkos Medical Clinic for treatment, adding that troops have since launched a manhunt to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities in the area.
In a related operation, troops of Sector 7 deployed at Ungwan Gora in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State responded to reports of suspected terrorists blocking the highway between Rafi Tagwai and Angwan Dariya.
Read also: Troops rescue 179 kidnap victims, kill 15 terrorists, arrest IPOB kingpin in nationwide operations
The troops recovered eight empty cases of 7.62mm special ammunition and rescued two injured passengers from the adjoining forest after some occupants of a commercial vehicle were kidnapped.
The victims were evacuated to a hospital in Fadan Karshi District for medical attention, while efforts continue to rescue the remaining abducted passengers.
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