RismadarVoice Reporters
September 20, 2026
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapped victims, arrested 11 suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered weapons during separate security operations across Plateau State.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday and obtained by RismadarVoice.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, deployed at Lamingo, carried out an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of Saturday, September 19, following information about suspected kidnappers operating around Rayfield and other parts of Jos North Local Government Area.
“Acting on the intelligence, troops raided suspected criminal hideouts at Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills, resulting in the arrest of 11 suspects,” the statement said.
The military said intelligence obtained from two victims who had been kidnapped from Gwafan Community on September 18 assisted the operation.
During preliminary investigation, the rescued victims reportedly identified three of the arrested suspects as alleged members of the group responsible for their abduction.
The identification forms part of an ongoing investigation, and the arrested persons remain suspects pending the conclusion of investigations and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
WEAPONS RECOVERED IN SEPARATE OPERATIONS
In another operation at about 6pm on Saturday, troops of Sector 3 deployed in Bassa Local Government Area conducted a cordon-and-search operation following intelligence received by the military.
The operation resulted in the recovery of one locally fabricated rifle and the arrest of a suspect.
“Troops are currently dominating the general area to possibly apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate,” the statement said.
Separately, troops of Sector 8 deployed in Mangu Local Government Area conducted a confidence-building patrol along the Tul, Ntam, Angwan Mata and Deng-Deng axis.
During the patrol, troops arrested another suspect around the Water Board Area after he allegedly attempted to conceal a weapon when he saw the security personnel.
The military said a search resulted in the recovery of one locally fabricated automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a mobile phone.
The suspects are undergoing further investigation as security personnel seek to establish the extent of the alleged kidnapping network and identify other persons who may be involved.
Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for what he described as their professionalism, dexterity and timely response during the operations.
He directed personnel “to sustain the aggressive posture and maintain the momentum of the operation to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.”
Dangana also thanked residents of Plateau State and other stakeholders for their continued cooperation with security agencies, as troops maintain operations across affected communities.
