Plateau: Military Neutralises 5 Kidnappers, Rescues Abducted Woman

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have neutralised five suspected kidnappers and rescued an abducted woman during a raid on a criminal hideout at Angwan Boka in Sopp District of Riyom local government area of Plateau State.

LEADERSHIP reports that the operation, which took place on Tuesday evening, followed credible intelligence provided by two suspects arrested a day earlier on February 16, who were confirmed members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in the area.

Our correspondent gathered that acting on  information from the arrested suspects, troops mobilised to the hideout where the abductors were holding their latest victims, a woman kidnapped at about 6:00 a.m on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, who confirmed the development to our correspondent on the phone said upon arrival at the location, troops engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun duel, neutralising four suspects in the exchange of fire.

“In the course of the operation, the two earlier arrested suspects attempted to escape by trying to disarm the soldiers amid the firefight but were overpowered and neutralised.”

He added that items recovered from the scene included three mobile phones, the sum of N17,600 in cash, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

According to him, the rescued victim, identified as Hauwa Suleiman, was found unharmed,She was debriefed by security operatives and reunited with her family.

The spokesman stated that troops have sustained offensive operations in the area to track down fleeing members of the syndicate, as efforts continue to dismantle remaining elements of the criminal network and restore lasting security in the locality.