By Kingsley Omonobi
JOS — Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapped victims, arrested 12 suspects and recovered weapons during separate operations in Plateau State.
Captain Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer for the operation, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the operations were conducted in different parts of the state.
He said troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, deployed at Lamingo, carried out an operation in the early hours of Saturday, September 19, following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected kidnappers operating around Rayfield and other parts of Jos North Local Government Area.
According to him, troops raided suspected criminal hideouts at Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills, leading to the arrest of 11 suspects.
Oteh said intelligence obtained from two victims abducted from Gwafan Community on September 18 further assisted the operation.
“During preliminary investigation, the victims positively identified three of the arrested suspects as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction,” he said.
In a related operation, troops of Sector 3 deployed in Bassa Local Government Area conducted a cordon-and-search operation at about 6pm on September 19 following credible intelligence.
The operation, Oteh said, led to the arrest of one suspect and recovery of a locally fabricated rifle.
He said troops were maintaining a presence in the area in an effort to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal syndicate.
Similarly, troops of Sector 8 deployed in Mangu Local Government Area conducted a confidence-building patrol along the Tul–Ntam–Angwan Mata–Deng-Deng axis.
During the patrol, troops apprehended a suspected criminal around the Water Board area after he allegedly attempted to conceal a weapon on sighting the soldiers.
A search of the suspect, Oteh said, led to the recovery of a locally fabricated automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a mobile phone.
The 12 suspects are in custody and undergoing further investigation, according to the military.
Oteh said the investigation was aimed at determining the activities of the suspected syndicate, identifying other members and facilitating follow-up operations against fleeing suspects.
The Commander, Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for their professionalism, timely response and performance during the operations.
Dangana urged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.
He also appreciated the support and cooperation of residents and other stakeholders in Plateau State, stressing the importance of timely and credible information in combating criminal activities.
The commander assured residents of the operation’s continued commitment to protecting lives and property and strengthening peace and security across the state.
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