Dare Babalola
Operation Enduring Peace troops in Plateau State have eliminated five suspected kidnappers and freed a woman held captive, restoring calm to the affected area.
The operation went down on Tuesday evening when troops raided a criminal hideout at Angwan Boka in Sopp District, Riyom Local Government Area, with the Joint Military Task Force spokesman, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, confirming the details to newsmen in Jos on Wednesday.
Oteh said, “Our men neutralised five kidnappers and rescued a woman who was earlier abducted.”
He explained that the raid followed credible intelligence provided by two suspects arrested on February 16, confirmed to be members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in the area.
“Acting on the information, troops mobilised to the hideout and rescued Hauwa Suleiman, who was earlier abducted by the criminal elements,” he added.
He further emphasised the importance of community support in fighting crime, saying, “We urge the people to continue to give us information. Information will help us. Even though we will do our best, with credible and actionable information, we will be able to know where the criminal elements are and be able to deal with them so that there will be peace.”
Speaking on the mandate of the troops, he stated, “Our men have maintained an aggressive posture to decisively deal with criminals. We will do our best to ensure there is peace in all parts of Plateau. That is the mandate of the Commander – to ensure there is peace; that people go back to their farms and do their businesses without problem.”
Residents of the Riyom community, including John Mairiga, confirmed the raid and the items recovered, which included three mobile phones, ₦17,600 in cash, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
“The woman, Hauwa Suleiman, who was rescued by the troops during the operation, was found unharmed and has been reunited with her family,” Mairiga added.
On February 11, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 16 insurgents and rescued 11 hostages.
The Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sanni Uba, disclosed that the 16 terrorists were neutralised on February 9, when troops, in synergy with the Civilian Joint Task Force, launched a counter-offensive along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government following an earlier attack on a military base on February 5.
