How Nigerian Soldiers Rescued Two Kidnap Victims, Nabbed Suspected Gun Runner In Plateau

Troops from Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have successfully rescued two kidnapping victims and apprehended a suspected gunrunner in Plateau State.

Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, disclosed this in a statement on 3 March 2026.

According to Oteh, the rescued victims were abducted at gun point on 22 February, from Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. 

"As part of the ongoing deliberate efforts and decisive offensive against criminal elements terrorizing innocent citizens within its Joint Operations Area (JOA), troops of operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) deployed at Wase, hafve successfully rescued two kidnapped victims around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State,” the statement read.

"Troops who were on aggressive fighting patrol of the general area, made contact with the criminals while conveying the victims to their hideouts and immediately abandoned the victims and fled into nearby bushes.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the rescued victims were abducted at gun point on 22 February 2026, from Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. 

“Victims have been debriefed and efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families, while troops have continued to comb the bushes in order to apprehend fleeing criminals and possibly rescue other abducted victims.”nL

In a related development, troops of OPEP deployed at Sanga, in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State have successfully intercepted a suspected Gun Runner during a stop and search operations at Kurmin Goro village. 

The 36 year old suspect identified as Vincent Ibrahim was intercepted while conveying five fabricated rifles to an undisclosed location in Kafanchan. 

The suspect is currently in troops custody undergoing interrogation.