Army Colonel Rescued by Nigerian Troops from Kidnappers in Plateau

Troops of the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, working with Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have successfully rescued a retired senior military officer, Colonel Ajanaku from kidnappers near the Rafiki axis in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 3rd Division, confirmed the operation in Jos, the state capital. He said, “I can confirm that the senior officer was rescued by our troops in the early hours of the evening. He has been taken to our medical facility for a health check-up.”

Sources in Bassa revealed that Col. Ajanaku was abducted from his residence around 12:45 a.m. on Monday. His home is located opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road. Following the incident, troops from relevant sectors promptly responded and tracked the kidnappers along their escape route through the Wildlife Park. Search and rescue efforts were intensified around caves and rocky highlands suspected to be hideouts for the criminals.

Security operatives reportedly shifted to covert operations, culminating in the successful recovery of the retired officer at approximately 6 p.m. on the same day near the outskirts of the Rafiki axis.

Before the rescue, the kidnappers had contacted Col. Ajanaku’s wife, demanding a ransom of N200 million and threatening to kill the officer if the rescue attempts continued.

The prompt action by Nigerian Army personnel underscores ongoing efforts to secure Plateau communities and disrupt criminal activities across the region.