Plateau Soldiers: Rescue 2 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 11 Suspects

• Nigerian military forces under Operation Enduring Peace rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested eleven suspects in Plateau State.
• The main operation on September 19, 2026, in Jos North followed intelligence on kidnappers and led to raids in Shere, Gwafan, and Maza Hills.
• Victims, abducted on September 18, 2026, from Gwafan Community, identified three of the arrested individuals.
• Separate operations in Bassa and Mangu Local Government Areas resulted in additional arrests and the recovery of a locally fabricated rifle, an automatic weapon, ammunition, and a mobile phone.
• Maj-Gen. Maxwell Dangana commended the troops' professionalism and urged them to maintain their aggressive posture to curb criminal activities.

The coordinated efforts led to the successful rescue of two abducted individuals and the apprehension of eleven suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate.

Nigerian military forces, operating under the banner of Operation Enduring Peace, recently achieved a significant breakthrough in their anti-kidnapping efforts within Plateau State. Troops from Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, stationed at Lamingo, successfully rescued two individuals who had been abducted and apprehended eleven suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate. These operations, which also led to the recovery of various weapons, were detailed in a statement released on Sunday by Captain Chinonso Oteh, the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace.

The primary operation unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, September 19, 2026, following the receipt of credible intelligence concerning the activities of kidnappers active in the Rayfield area and other parts of the Jos North Local Government Area. Acting on this crucial information, the soldiers conducted targeted raids on suspected criminal hideouts located in Shere, Gwafan, and Maza Hills. This decisive action culminated in the arrest of the eleven suspects.

Further enhancing the operation's success was the timely utilization of intelligence provided by the two rescued victims themselves. These individuals had been abducted from the Gwafan Community on September 18, 2026. During subsequent preliminary investigations, the victims positively identified three of the arrested individuals as members of the criminal group allegedly responsible for their kidnapping, providing critical corroboration to the military's findings.

Beyond the significant rescue mission in Jos North, Operation Enduring Peace troops conducted additional security operations across Plateau State, targeting criminal elements and enhancing regional stability. In the Bassa Local Government Area, soldiers from Sector 3, acting on credible intelligence, executed a cordon-and-search operation around 6 p.m. on September 19, 2026. This intervention resulted in the recovery of one locally fabricated rifle and the arrest of a single suspect. Military personnel are currently maintaining a strong presence in the general area, actively working to locate and apprehend other potential members of the criminal syndicate.

Concurrently, troops from Sector 8, deployed in the Mangu Local Government Area, carried out a confidence-building patrol along the critical Tul–Ntam–Angwan Mata–Deng-Deng axis. During this patrol, a suspected criminal was apprehended near the Water Board Area. The individual attempted to conceal a weapon upon noticing the approaching troops. A thorough search of the suspect led to the discovery and recovery of one locally fabricated automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and a mobile phone. All arrested suspects from these various operations are currently undergoing investigation to fully uncover the extent of their syndicate activities and affiliations.

The overall success and professionalism demonstrated by the troops did not go unnoticed by the command structure. Maj-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, who serves as the Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, issued a commendation to the soldiers for their exceptional professionalism, dexterity, and prompt response during these critical operations. His remarks highlighted the effectiveness of the Nigerian military's anti-kidnapping efforts in Plateau.

Looking forward, Commander Dangana issued a clear directive to the troops, charging them to sustain their aggressive posture and maintain the operational momentum. This strategic approach aims to deny criminal elements any freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area, thereby enhancing the security landscape of Plateau State. He also expressed his sincere appreciation for the ongoing support and cooperation received from the residents of Plateau State and other relevant stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in security initiatives.

This article reports on a military operation against criminal elements in Plateau State. It does not introduce new legal precedents, regulatory changes, or specific compliance obligations for lawyers or compliance officers. Its primary relevance is as a factual report on security efforts in the region.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspaper