—Launches operation to free two kidnapped victims
By Kingsley Omonobi
Troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have rescued three passengers who sustained gunshot injuries during an attack by suspected kidnappers along the Jos–Makarfi highway in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred at about 1 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, when troops responded to reports of sporadic shootings by suspected kidnappers who had blocked the highway.
On arrival at the scene, the troops found a commercial bus, marked EPE-840XB and driven by Baba Ruwa from Oyo State, which had reportedly been intercepted by the attackers.
The suspected kidnappers fled on sighting the troops, enabling the soldiers to rescue three passengers who had sustained gunshot injuries.
Further questioning of the rescued passengers revealed that two others, identified as Mrs Precious and Mrs Esther, had allegedly been abducted by the attackers.
The three injured passengers were evacuated to the Primary Health Centre, Riyom, for medical attention.
The troops have since launched an operation to locate and rescue the two abducted passengers and apprehend the perpetrators.
Security sources have also raised concerns over the alleged involvement of militia elements in kidnapping-for-ransom activities in parts of Plateau State.
The development, according to the sources, has been compounded by the proliferation of locally fabricated firearms, which they said had increased the capacity of criminal elements to carry out road ambushes and abduct travellers.
The sources added that the attackers often exploit their familiarity with the terrain and local communities to evade security forces.
Security agencies are intensifying efforts to identify and dismantle the criminal networks, recover illegal weapons and prevent further attacks on motorists and residents.
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