In a major security breakthrough, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have successfully rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested a suspected gunrunner in separate operations across Plateau and Kaduna States.
Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, confirmed the developments in a statement released on 3rd March, 2026.
Daring Rescue Operation in Plateau
The rescue mission unfolded when troops deployed in Wase, Plateau State, encountered criminals transporting the kidnapped victims around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area.
According to the statement, soldiers on aggressive fighting patrol made contact with the criminals who immediately abandoned their captives and fled into nearby bushes upon sighting the military personnel.
“As part of the ongoing deliberate efforts and decisive offensive against criminal elements terrorizing innocent citizens within its Joint Operations Area (JOA), troops of operation ENDURING PEACE deployed at Wase, have successfully rescued two kidnapped victims around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State,” Captain Oteh explained.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had been abducted at gunpoint on 22nd February, 2026, from Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The rescued victims have been debriefed by security operatives, and efforts are currently underway to reunite them with their families. Meanwhile, troops continue to comb the surrounding bushes in search of the fleeing criminals and to potentially rescue other abducted victims.
Suspected Gun Runner Arrested in Kaduna
In a separate but related development, troops of OPEP deployed in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State intercepted a suspected gun runner during a routine stop-and-search operation at Kurmin Goro village.
The suspect, 36-year-old Vincent Ibrahim, was nabbed while allegedly transporting five fabricated rifles to an undisclosed location in Kafanchan. He is currently in military custody undergoing interrogation.
The arrest highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal arms trafficking in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, which has contributed to the proliferation of violent crimes including kidnapping, banditry, and communal clashes.
Military Leadership Commends Troops
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, praised the troops for their alertness and decisive action.
He reassured citizens of the military’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and properties across the operational areas.
These latest successes come as security forces intensify efforts to combat kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities that have plagued parts of Plateau, Kaduna, and Bauchi States in recent times.
The operations demonstrate the effectiveness of proactive patrols and intelligence-driven security responses in the fight against criminal elements terrorizing communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
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Security experts continue to advocate for increased collaboration between military forces and local communities to achieve lasting peace and security in the region.
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