Security Forces Foil Kidnapping, Rescue Retired Colonel in Plateau State
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have successfully rescued a retired senior Nigerian Army officer, Colonel Ajanaku (rtd), who was abducted by gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The retired officer was kidnapped in the early hours of 5 January 2026, at about 12:45 a.m., from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa LGA. Following a distress alert, troops from Sectors 1 and 3 of Operation ENDURING PEACE immediately mobilised and pursued the kidnappers along their escape route through the Wildlife Park area.
The rescue effort was carried out in collaboration with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Tracking Team and local vigilantes, as troops conducted intensive search-and-rescue operations across suspected hideouts, including caves and rocky high grounds within the area.
At about 2:00 p.m. on the same day, the kidnappers contacted the victim’s wife and demanded a ransom of ₦200 million. They also threatened to kill the retired officer if the ongoing military search was not halted. In response, troops tactically shifted to covert operations to avoid endangering the victim.
The strategy paid off, as Colonel Ajanaku (rtd) was safely rescued at about 5:30 p.m. on 5 January 2026 at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA, without the payment of any ransom.
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 be debriefed to provide useful intelligence to support ongoing follow-up operations.
Meanwhile, troops have sustained aggressive combing of surrounding forests to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the abduction.
The Nigerian Army has reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring the public that Operation ENDURING PEACE will continue to deny criminal elements freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.
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