Soldiers rescue three abducted women in Plateau

Residents of Makundang village in Mangor District, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, have expressed joy and relief following the rescue of three young women abducted by gunmen on Wednesday night.

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) rescued the victims unharmed after confronting their abductors in Makundang village.

The victims were identified as Miss Fatigi Aguna, 19; Lovina Bawa, 18; and Barsheba Appolos, 18.

Confirming the development to journalists in Jos on Saturday, the spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by security personnel to protect lives and property across the Joint Operations Area.

“Yes, the three of them were rescued by our men,” Oteh said.

Security sources said the rescue followed a search-and-rescue operation launched by troops of Sector 5 of OPEP after receiving a distress report about the kidnapping incident at about 8:50 pm on November 5, 2026.

According to the sources, the troops swiftly mobilised to the area and established contact with the kidnappers, who reportedly abandoned their victims and fled into the surrounding bush following pressure from the security personnel.

A resident of Makundang, Jude Simon, said the community was thrown into panic when news of the abduction spread.

He said, “When we heard that the girls were taken, everybody was afraid. We could not sleep that night. We were praying that they would return alive.”

Another resident said the swift response of the troops prevented what could have been another tragedy in the area.

She said, “We thank the soldiers for coming quickly. If they had delayed, we don’t know what would have happened to those girls. Their quick action saved three families from sorrow.”

A community leader in Bokkos also commended the troops and urged residents to continue to support security agencies.

He said, “This rescue has given us hope. It shows that when we report on time, the security agencies can act. We will continue to give them information because we want peace in Bokkos.”

A relative of one of the rescued victims, who could not hold back tears, said the family had been in distress since the abduction.

He said, “We were in serious pain. We did not know if we would see our daughter alive again. We thank God and we thank the soldiers for bringing them back to us safely.”

The sources said all three victims were rescued unhurt and subsequently reunited with their families.

They added that troops had intensified efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers, assuring residents that security operations were ongoing to prevent further criminal activities in the area.

Oteh appreciated residents for their cooperation with security agencies and appealed for sustained support through the provision of credible and timely information to assist security operatives in restoring lasting peace in the area.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies, noting that public cooperation remained vital to the success of ongoing operations.