Troops rescue seven kidnap victims along Riyom highway in Plateau

By Golok Nanmwa, Jos

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued seven travellers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Riyom highway in Plateau State.

Sources from Operation Enduring Peace, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said the rescue followed a swift response to a distress call at about 9:30 p.m. on Monday near Sopp village in Riyom Local Government Area.

The sources said troops deployed under Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace arrived at the scene and found a blue Opel Vectra abandoned in the middle of the road with no occupants, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bush.

According to the sources, the troops made contact with the suspected kidnappers during the operation, forcing them to flee into the bush under sustained military pressure and abandon their captives.

The rescued victims were identified as ASP Babagida Ishaku, Mr Auwulu Haruna, Dung Jerry Dang, Anas Idris, Hussaini Mohammed, Idris Abdullahi and Mrs Kangyang Sunday.

The victims reportedly told the troops they had boarded the vehicle in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, and were travelling to Jos when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.

The sources said all seven victims were rescued unharmed, while efforts have been intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The sources added that troops of Operation Enduring Peace have continued routine patrols across the Joint Operations Area to protect commuters, schools, places of worship and other critical national infrastructure as part of sustained efforts to improve security across Plateau State.