RismadarVoice Reporters
January 6, 2026
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued a retired senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Ajanaku, following his abduction by gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The retired officer was kidnapped in the early hours of January 5, 2026 at about 0045 hours from his residence, opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa Local Government Area.
Security sources said troops of Sectors 1 and 3 of Operation Enduring Peace were immediately deployed after a distress alert was received, trailing the kidnappers along their escape route through the Wildlife Park area.
The rescue operation was conducted in collaborations with the Defence Intelligence Agency tracking team and local vigilantes, with troops combing suspected criminal hideouts, including caves and rocky high ground within the area.
Later that day, at about 1400 hours, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the wife of the abducted officer and demanded a ransom of two hundred million naira. The abductors also threatened to kill the victim if security operations were not halted.
Security forces subsequently adopted covert operational tactics, which led to the successful rescue of Colonel Ajanaku at about 1730 hours on January 5, 2026, at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa Local Government Area. No ransom was paid.
The rescued officer is currently receiving medical attention at the Operation Enduring Peace Medical Centre, and is said to be in stable condition. He is expected to be debriefed to provide intelligence that will support ongoing security operations.
Meanwhile, troops are continuing search operations in surrounding forests to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle their criminal network, as security efforts are intensified across the area.
