Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), have rescued two kidnapped victims during separate operations in Bassa and Kanam Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State.
The Media Officer of JTF-OPEP, Capt. Polycarp Oteh, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos.
Oteh said the operations formed part of sustained efforts by the task force to deny terrorist elements freedom of movement and action across the state.
He attributed the successes to timely information from residents and support from community leaders.
According to him, troops of Sector 3, deployed in Bassa LGA, launched a search-and-rescue operation around 9 a.m. on Tuesday after receiving credible information about an alleged plan to kidnap Mr Ndubuisi Onuigbo.
“Acting on credible information on the move to kidnap one Mr Ndubuisi Onuigbo, troops initiated a search and rescue operation leading to the successful rescue of the victim,” he said.
Oteh said troops of Sector 2, deployed in Kukawa Community, Kanam LGA, also rescued another victim during a patrol in the early hours of Wednesday.
He said the troops encountered suspected terrorists along their route and immediately pursued them.
“The troops aggressively pursued the terrorists, leading to the immediate rescue of a kidnapped victim, Malam Sambo Abdullahi, who was abandoned by the fleeing terrorists,” Oteh said.
He said the troops had successfully debriefed both victims and reunited them with their families.
The JTF-OPEP commander, Maj.-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for the successful operations and pledged to sustain aggressive action against criminal elements across Plateau.
He also urged residents and community leaders to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information to support ongoing operations.
