Soldiers rescue two kidnapped victims, nab gun runner in Plateau, Kaduna
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the task force said its troops rescued two abducted persons in Plateau State and intercepted a suspected arms courier in Kaduna State, describing both actions as part of an “ongoing deliberate effort and decisive offensive” against criminal elements.
The statement was signed by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace.
Rescue operation in Plateau: victims freed near Kukawa
According to the task force, troops deployed at Wase conducted an aggressive patrol around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, where they encountered kidnappers moving victims toward a hideout.
The troops made contact while the criminals were in transit. The kidnappers reportedly abandoned the victims and fled into nearby bushes as soon as they sighted and engaged the soldiers.
Preliminary findings by the troops indicated that the rescued persons were abducted at gunpoint on February 22, 2026, from Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Following their rescue, the victims were debriefed, while troops continued combing the surrounding bushes to track fleeing suspects and possibly locate other abducted persons.
This is the operational picture behind the headline Soldiers rescue two kidnapped victims, nab gun runner in Plateau, Kaduna: the rescue did not happen inside a camp or hideout. It happened on the move, at the point where criminals were trying to relocate victims.
https://ogelenews.ng/soldiers-rescue-two-kidnapped-victims
Kaduna interception: suspected gun runner caught with five rifles
In a separate operation in Kaduna State, the task force said troops deployed at Sanga intercepted a suspected gun runner during a stop-and-search operation at Kurmin Goro village.
The suspect was identified as Vincent Ibrahim, aged 36. He was allegedly intercepted while conveying five fabricated rifles to an undisclosed destination in Kafanchan.
The task force said the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to establish the network behind the movement of the weapons and the intended recipients.
Multiple outlets also reported the same key details about the stop-and-search interception, including the location and the allegation that five locally made rifles were being moved toward Kafanchan.
Again, Soldiers rescue two kidnapped victims, nab gun runner in Plateau, Kaduna is also a story about weapon supply lines. When gun running succeeds, kidnappers and armed criminal groups become harder to disrupt. When it fails, it weakens the ecosystem that sustains violent crime.
Command reaction: “unwavering commitment”
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, Major-General Folusho Oyinlola, commended the troops for their alertness and “decisive action,” while assuring residents of the task force’s continued commitment to protect lives and property.
That assurance is important, but communities will measure it in practical terms: quicker response times, fewer successful abductions, and sustained pressure on criminal routes and hideouts.
Why this development matters
Kidnapping in the North-Central and parts of the North-West has increasingly become an industry that thrives on mobility. Victims are moved quickly across bush paths and rural corridors to complicate rescue efforts. The task force narrative suggests this was precisely what the criminals attempted around Kukawa: relocation before soldiers could close in.
The Kaduna leg of the operation also underlines a second reality: kidnapping and banditry are not only about manpower; they are about weapons access. The interception of five fabricated rifles, if confirmed through investigation, points to continued attempts to replenish arms through informal manufacture and movement between communities.
Operation Enduring Peace has previously reported engagements in the broader Plateau axis, including operations around Kanam where troops made contact with kidnappers and recovered weapons in earlier incidents. That background helps explain why patrols and bush combing remain central to the task force approach.
What to watch next
Two immediate follow-ups matter:
- Reunification and victim support: the task force says efforts are ongoing to reunite the rescued victims with their families.
- Network mapping from the arrest: the interrogation of the suspected gun runner will be key to identifying collaborators, supply routes, and potential buyers.
For now, the verified official account is clear: Soldiers rescue two kidnapped victims, nab gun runner in Plateau, Kaduna, with the rescue occurring in Kanam (Plateau) and the interception occurring in Sanga (Kaduna).
https://punchng.com/soldiers-rescue-two-kidnapped-victims-nab-gun-runner-in-plateau-kaduna
