Troops of Operation Enduring Peace in Plateau State have eliminated five suspected kidnappers and safely rescued an abducted woman during a Tuesday evening raid on a criminal hideout in the Angwan Boka area of the Sopp District, located in Riyom.
Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, spokesperson for the Joint Military Task Force, confirmed the operation in an interview with journalists in Jos.
According to him, “Yes, it’s true. Our men neutralised five kidnappers and rescued a woman who was earlier abducted.”
Oteh explained that the raid was conducted following actionable intelligence provided by two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate, who were arrested on February 16.
“Acting on the information, troops mobilised to the hideout and rescued Hauwa Suleiman, who was earlier abducted by the criminal elements,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of community cooperation in improving security.
“We urge the people to continue to give us information. Even though we’ll do our best, credible and actionable intelligence helps us know where criminal elements are so we can deal with them,” he stated.
Oteh added that the troops would continue to maintain an assertive stance against criminality across the state.
“Our mandate is to ensure peace so people can go back to their farms and businesses without problems,” he said.
Residents of the area, including eyewitness John Mairiga, confirmed the successful raid and disclosed that the troops recovered three mobile phones, ₦17,600 in cash, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
Mairiga also noted that the rescued victim, Hauwa Suleiman, “was found unharmed and has since been reunited with her family.”
In a related development, troops of Operation Hadin Kai earlier neutralised 16 insurgents and rescued 11 hostages during a February 9 counter-offensive along the Komala axis in Konduga.
According to Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, this followed an attack on a military base on February 5.
