Troops rescue two kidnap victims, arrest 12 suspects in Plateau

Troops under Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapping victims and arrested 12 suspects in separate operations across Plateau State.

The operation’s Media Information Officer, Captain Polycarp Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to Oteh, the first operation took place on Saturday when troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, acting on intelligence, moved against suspected kidnappers operating around Rayfield and other areas of Jos North Local Government Area.

The troops searched suspected criminal locations in Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills, where 11 suspects were taken into custody.

Oteh said the operation was also aided by information obtained from two people who had allegedly been kidnapped from Gwafan Community on September 18.

He said the victims later identified three of the suspects as alleged members of the group involved in their abduction.

In Bassa Local Government Area, troops from Sector 3 also carried out a search operation following intelligence about suspected criminal activities.

The operation, conducted at about 6 pm on Saturday, resulted in the arrest of another suspect and the seizure of a locally manufactured rifle.

Meanwhile, troops operating in Mangu Local Government Area intercepted another suspected criminal during a patrol along the Tul, Ntam, Angwan Mata and Deng-Deng axis.

The suspect was arrested near the Water Board area after allegedly trying to hide a weapon when he noticed the soldiers.

A search uncovered a locally fabricated automatic firearm, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a mobile phone.

The military said all 12 suspects were being held for further investigation.

Oteh said investigators were working to establish the suspects’ roles in the alleged criminal activities, identify other members of the syndicate and support further operations to apprehend those still at large.