Troops Neutralise Seven Suspects, Rescue Kidnapped Girl in Kaduna
Troops of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE have recorded major operational successes in Kaduna State after neutralising seven suspected criminals, rescuing a kidnapped victim and recovering arms and ammunition in Kaura Local Government Area.
The operations were carried out under Operation PEACE SHIELD on Tuesday 13 January and Wednesday 14 January 2026.
According to a statement signed by Captain Joshua Atu John, Acting Media Information Officer of JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, troops of Sector 7 acted on credible intelligence regarding the abduction of a young girl in Kajim Village, Kaura LGA. The troops mobilised immediately and pursued the suspects. Contact was made and a firefight ensued, during which three suspects identified as Yusuf Musa, Auwal Adamu and Kamal Abdul were neutralised.
The victim was rescued, debriefed and reunited with her family.
In a separate operation on Wednesday, troops raided a suspected armed robbery hideout on the outskirts of Kaura. During the encounter, four suspects Abubakar Ibrahim aged 35, Ibrahim Isa aged 37, Suleiman Auwal aged 25 and Suleiman Tahiru were neutralised.
Troops recovered a fabricated rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles. Preliminary investigations indicate the suspects were linked to kidnapping and armed robbery activities along the Ganawuri Manchok corridor.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements and ensuring the safety of residents across the joint operations area.
Meanwhile, this other report says three community vigilante members from Kajim Village in Kaura Local Government Area are currently in Criminal Investigation Department detention as of Wednesday 18 February 2026.
The men identified as Habila Yaro Umaru also known as Yaro, Philibus Ninyioh also known as MC Filibus and Augustine Tinat also known as “Election” are said to have been part of local vigilante efforts supporting security operations in the area.
Community sources claim the trio were involved in assisting security forces of the Nigerian Military under of Sector 7 of the JTF OPEP during the January 13 operation along the Jos Kaduna road between Manchok and Jankasa, where armed men allegedly blocked the highway and abducted several travellers including a young woman from Kajim.
Residents allege that after the military operation in which suspects were neutralised and the kidnapped victim rescued, a petition was later submitted by individuals said to be associates of some of the suspects. The petition reportedly called for action against members of the local vigilante group.
There are also claims within the community that tensions have increased in the area in recent months amid repeated reports of attacks, kidnappings and destruction of farmlands across parts of Southern Kaduna.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have not publicly stated the specific reasons for the continued detention of the three vigilante members.
The situation has raised fresh conversations within the community about security collaboration between residents and law enforcement agencies in parts of Southern Kaduna.
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