Operation ENDURING PEACE: Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims, Arrest 13 Suspects in Plateau

Operation ENDURING PEACE: Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims, Arrest 13 Suspects in Plateau

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued two kidnapped victims, arrested 13 suspected criminals and recovered locally fabricated firearms and ammunition during separate operations across Plateau State.

The operations, conducted on Saturday, September 19, 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities of kidnapping and criminal syndicates operating in parts of the state.

Troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, deployed at Lamingo, conducted raids on suspected criminal hideouts in Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills in Jos North Local Government Area in the early hours of Saturday. The operation led to the arrest of 11 suspects.

The operation was further supported by information obtained from two victims who had been kidnapped from Gwafan Community on September 18. During preliminary investigation, the victims reportedly identified three of the arrested suspects as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction.

In a separate operation at about 6:00 p.m. on the same day, troops of Sector 3 deployed in Bassa Local Government Area conducted a cordon-and-search operation based on credible intelligence. The operation resulted in the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of a locally fabricated rifle.

Troops have continued to dominate the area in an effort to locate and apprehend other suspected members of the criminal network.

Similarly, troops of Sector 8 in Mangu Local Government Area conducted a confidence-building patrol along the Tul–Ntam–Angwan Mata–Deng-Deng axis.

During the patrol, troops apprehended a suspected criminal around the Water Board Area after he allegedly attempted to conceal a weapon upon sighting the soldiers.

A search of the suspect led to the recovery of one locally fabricated automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a mobile phone.

The 13 suspects arrested during the separate operations are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation to establish their individual roles, identify other members of the criminal networks and support follow-up operations against fleeing suspects.

Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for their professionalism, timely response and effectiveness during the operations.

Dangana urged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.

He also appreciated the continued support and cooperation of residents and other stakeholders across Plateau State, stressing that timely and credible information remains critical to the success of security operations.

The commander reaffirmed the commitment of Operation ENDURING PEACE to protecting lives and property while consolidating peace and security across the state.

Operation ENDURING PEACE: Troops Rescue Two Kidnap Victims, Arrest 13 Suspects in Plateau