Troops of Sector 9 under Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued eight persons abducted by suspected kidnappers during a military operation conducted in Pandam Forest, located in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The successful rescue was confirmed on Friday in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Oteh.
According to the military, the operation was launched at about 3:00 am on Wednesday, June 24, after security forces received credible intelligence indicating that armed kidnappers were operating within the forest.
Acting on the intelligence, troops stationed in Namu Town carried out a carefully coordinated offensive operation aimed at dismantling the criminal hideout and rescuing those held captive.
Captain Oteh said the mission demonstrated the military’s unwavering determination to safeguard lives, restore security and sustain peace across the Joint Operations Area.
During the operation, soldiers encountered resistance from the suspected kidnappers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
“During the operation, troops engaged in a firefight with the suspected kidnappers, who fired sporadically in an attempt to withdraw. Utilising the ensuing chaos, three of the kidnapped victims managed to escape earlier from the kidnappers’ custody,” Oteh stated.
Following the initial confrontation, troops continued combing the forest in search of the fleeing suspects and any remaining victims.
The follow-up search led to the discovery and rescue of five additional kidnapped persons, increasing the total number of rescued victims to eight.
According to the statement, all the rescued individuals are currently safe and receiving the necessary care while arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe condition, and efforts are ongoing to unite them with their respective families,” Oteh added.
The military noted that the operation has received widespread commendation from residents of the affected communities, who expressed appreciation for the troops’ swift intervention.
Community members also pledged to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely intelligence that would assist in tracking criminal elements operating in the area.
Operation ENDURING PEACE disclosed that troops are still pursuing the fleeing kidnappers with the objective of arresting or neutralising them.
“This successful operation has been highly applauded by members of the local communities, who indicated willingness to continue to provide useful information to ensure the arrest of the kidnappers.
“Troops are currently in pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers to apprehend or neutralise them. Operation ENDURING PEACE appreciates the citizens for their cooperation and calls for more support in disrupting criminal elements and restoring the desired peace across the Joint Operations Area,” the statement concluded.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against criminal groups while encouraging residents to remain vigilant and continue collaborating with security agencies to improve safety across Plateau State.
