Nigerian troops have arrested 11 suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and rescued two kidnapped victims during separate operations in Plateau State. The operations, conducted by Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, Operation ENDURING PEACE, were carried out in the early hours of Saturday, 19 September 2026. The troops raided suspected criminal hideouts at Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills, resulting in the arrest of the 11 suspects.
According to Captain Chinonso Oteh, Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, the operations followed credible intelligence on the activities of kidnappers operating within the Rayfield and other parts of Jos North local government area. The intelligence was further enhanced by information obtained from two kidnapped victims who had been abducted from Gwafan Community on 18 September 2026.
During preliminary investigation, the victims positively identified three of the arrested suspects as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction. The troops also recovered weapons during the operations. In a related development, troops of Sector 3, deployed in Bassa local government area, conducted a cordon-and-search operation which led to the recovery of one locally fabricated rifle and arrest of a suspect.
The troops are currently dominating the general area to possibly apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate. In another development, 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, they apprehended a suspected criminal around the Water Board Area who attempted to conceal a weapon upon sighting troops.
A thorough search of the suspect led to the recovery of one locally fabricated automatic weapon, 9 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one mobile phone. The arrested suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation and exploitation to unravel the activities of the syndicate and identify other members.
Major General Maxwell Dangana, Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, commended troops for their professionalism, dexterity and timely response during the operations. He charged them to sustain the aggressive posture and maintain the momentum of the operation to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.
Major General Dangana also appreciated the continued support and cooperation of the people of Plateau State and other relevant stakeholders, emphasizing that the timely provision of credible information remains critical to the success of ongoing operations against criminal elements and efforts to consolidate the prevailing peace across the State.
Key points
- The operations resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects and the rescue of two kidnapped victims.
- The troops recovered several weapons, including locally fabricated rifles and ammunition.
- The Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE commended troops for their professionalism and charged them to sustain their aggressive posture.
