Troops rescue two kidnap victims in Plateau

JOS: Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnap victims in separate operations in Bassa and Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

The rescue operations followed intensified efforts by the troops to disrupt the activities of criminal and terrorist elements and deny them freedom of action across the state.

In a statement on Wednesday, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said the victims were rescued during separate operations conducted in the two local government areas.

Oteh said troops of Sector 3, deployed in Bassa LGA, launched a search-and-rescue operation at about 9am on Tuesday following credible information on the abduction of one Ndubuisi Onuigbo.

He said the operation led to the successful rescue of Onuigbo from his abductors.

Similarly, troops of Sector 2 deployed at Kukawa village in Kanam LGA encountered suspected terrorists during a fighting patrol in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to Oteh, the troops pursued the fleeing suspects, forcing them to abandon a kidnapped victim, identified as Mallam Sambo Abdullahi, who was subsequently rescued.

“The rescued victims have been successfully debriefed and reunited with their families,” the statement said.

The Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for their professionalism and decisive action in disrupting criminal activities across the state.

Dangana urged residents to remain calm and vigilant and continue to provide security agencies with credible information to support ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the Joint Operations Area.