Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, have rescued two kidnapped victims during separate operations in Bassa and Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The military said the rescues were part of intensified operations aimed at denying terrorist and criminal elements freedom of action across the state.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the troops carried out the operations following credible intelligence and encounters with suspected terrorists.
In the first operation, troops of Sector 3 deployed in Bassa Local Government Area launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving information about the abduction of one Mr Ndubuisi Onuigbo.
The operation led to the successful rescue of the victim, the military said.
In another operation conducted in the early hours of Wednesday, troops of Sector 2 deployed at Kukawa village in Kanam Local Government Area encountered suspected terrorists during a fighting patrol.
The troops were said to have engaged and pursued the fleeing suspects, leading to the rescue of another kidnapped victim, identified as Mallam Sambo Abdullahi.
The victim was reportedly abandoned by the fleeing suspects during the operation.
The military said both victims had been debriefed and reunited with their families.
The Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for what he described as their professionalism and decisive response in tackling criminal activities across the Joint Operations Area.
“The troops have demonstrated professionalism and a decisive posture in disrupting criminal activities and proactively restoring peace and security in the Operation ENDURING PEACE Joint Operations Area,” the statement quoted Dangana as saying.
The commander appealed to residents of Plateau State to remain calm, vigilant and continue to support security agencies with credible information.
“We appeal for calm, caution and continued support to enable the troops achieve their mandate of restoring the desired enduring peace in the Joint Operations Area,” he said.
Operation ENDURING PEACE has continued to intensify operations across Plateau State and surrounding areas as security forces seek to curb kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities in the region.
