Troops of Sector 9, Operation ENDURING PEACE, have rescued eight kidnapped victims from Pandam Forest in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The rescue operation was confirmed on Friday in a statement signed by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Oteh, and according to the statement, the operation was carried out at about 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday following credible intelligence on the presence of kidnappers in the forest.
Oteh said troops deployed in Namu Town conducted a deliberate offensive operation, leading to the successful rescue of the victims.
He said the operation underscored the troops’ commitment to restoring peace and security and protecting lives across the Joint Operations Area.
He explained that the troops engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun battle during the operation.
“During the operation, troops engaged in a firefight with the suspected kidnappers, who fired sporadically in an attempt to withdraw. Utilizing the ensuing chaos, three of the kidnapped victims managed to escape earlier from the kidnappers’ custody,” he stated.
Oteh added that a follow-up search of the forest led to the rescue of five more victims.
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“Subsequent exploitation and thorough combing of the forest by the troops led to the rescue of an additional five abducted victims, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to eight.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe condition, and efforts are ongoing to unite them with their respective families,” he said.
The military said the operation had been commended by members of the affected communities, who pledged continued cooperation with security agencies.
The statement added: “This successful operation has been highly applauded by members of the local communities, who indicated willingness to continue to provide useful information to ensure the arrest of the kidnappers.
“Troops are currently in pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers to apprehend or neutralize them. Operation ENDURING PEACE appreciates the citizens for their cooperation and calls for more support in disrupting criminal elements and restoring the desired peace across the Joint Operations Area.”
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