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In a swift, intelligence-driven operation, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued a retired senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd), from kidnappers in Plateau State, dealing a decisive blow to criminal gangs operating in the area.
The retired colonel was abducted in the early hours of Monday, January 5, 2026, at about 12:45 a.m., from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa Local Government Area. Minutes after the distress call, troops from Sectors 1 and 3 of Operation ENDURING PEACE were activated, immediately tracking the kidnappers’ escape route through the Wildlife Park corridor.
Working in close coordination with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) tracking team and local vigilantes, the troops launched an intensive search-and-rescue mission—sweeping caves, rocky high grounds, and suspected hideouts across the axis. The pressure mounted.
By mid-afternoon, the kidnappers contacted the victim’s wife, demanding a staggering ₦200 million ransom. As troops tightened the net, the criminals issued threats, attempting to force a halt to the operation. Instead, the security forces tactically shifted to covert maneuvers—outsmarting the abductors.
At about 5:30 p.m. the same day, the operation paid off. Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd) was rescued alive at the outskirts of the Rafiki Axis in Bassa LGA—without a single naira paid.
The rescued officer is currently receiving medical attention at the Operation ENDURING PEACE Medical Centre and is reported to be in stable condition. He will also be debriefed to provide actionable intelligence to support follow-up operations.
Meanwhile, troops have sustained aggressive combing of surrounding forests to hunt down the fleeing kidnappers and dismantle their network.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its unwavering resolve to protect lives and property, vowing to continue denying criminal elements any freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area. In Plateau, the message is clear: ransom rackets will fail, and justice will catch up.
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