Military Confirms Rescue Of Kidnapped Army Officer In Plateau

Troops of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have confirmed the rescued of a retired senior military officer, Colonel Ajanaku, from kidnappers around the Rafiki axis located in Bassa local government area of Plateau State.

The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, confirmed the rescue of the retired senior military officer in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He said, “I can confirm that the senior officer was rescued by our troops in the early hours of the evening. He’s currently taken to our medical facility for a medical check-up,” Colonel Danja said.

Sources in Bassa narrated that the military officer was abducted by gunmen from his residence in Bassa LGA of the State.

They explained that the rescued retired Army officer was kidnapped at about 12:45 a.m. on Monday from his house located opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road.

According to the sources, troops from relevant sectors promptly responded to the incident and trailed the kidnappers along their escape route through the Wildlife Park, while search and rescue operations were intensified around caves and rocky high grounds suspected to be criminal hideouts.

However, security forces were said to have switched to covert operations, leading to the successful rescue of Col. Ajanaku at about 6p.m. on the same day on the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA.

LEADERSHIP reports that the abductors had, before the rescue operation, contacted the victim’s wife and demanded a ransom of N200million, while threatening to kill the retired Army officer if rescue efforts were not halted.