Operation Enduring Peace Troops Rescue Kidnap Victims in Plateau, Arrest Suspected Gunrunner in Kaduna

Troops under Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have rescued two kidnapped victims in Plateau State and intercepted a suspected gunrunner in Kaduna State during separate security operations in the North-Central region.

According to a statement by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, the rescue mission followed credible intelligence received by troops on patrol.

The operation, carried out on February 22, 2026, led soldiers to Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where the victims had been held after being abducted at gunpoint around Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Upon sighting the advancing troops, the bandits reportedly fled the scene, abandoning the victims. The rescued individuals were subsequently debriefed and reunited with their families.

In a related development, troops deployed in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State apprehended a 36-year-old man, identified as Vincent Ibrahim, during a routine stop-and-search operation at Kurmin Goro village.

Security officials said Ibrahim was allegedly transporting five locally fabricated rifles to an undisclosed destination in Kafanchan when he was intercepted. Authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the investigation.

The latest operations highlight ongoing military efforts to curb kidnapping and the proliferation of illegal arms across parts of northern Nigeria.