Troops of Sector 9 under Operation ENDURING PEACE have successfully rescued eight kidnapped victims from the Pandam Forest in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State following a well coordinated military operation based on credible intelligence. The successful rescue is another significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts by security forces to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the North Central region.
According to the Joint Task Force, the operation was carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, June 24, after intelligence reports revealed the presence of kidnappers hiding inside the forest with their captives. Troops deployed from Namu Town launched a deliberate offensive against the criminal hideout, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire as the kidnappers attempted to resist the advancing soldiers before retreating deeper into the forest.
Military spokesman Captain Chinonso Oteh disclosed that during the intense firefight, three of the kidnapped victims managed to escape from their captors by taking advantage of the confusion created by the gun battle. The troops continued their advance into the forest, eventually locating and rescuing five additional victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to eight. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The rescued victims were safely evacuated from the forest and are receiving the necessary care, while troops have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing kidnappers and dismantle their remaining hideouts. The military also reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at denying criminal groups safe havens across Plateau State and other areas within its operational responsibility.
Operation ENDURING PEACE urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of criminality. The latest operation underscores the military’s determination to restore peace, protect lives and property, and ensure that criminal elements no longer operate freely within the region.
