By Nkechi Eze
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued two kidnapped victims, arrested 13 suspected criminals and recovered locally fabricated weapons and ammunition during separate operations across Plateau State.
According to a statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the operations were conducted on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following credible intelligence on the activities of criminal elements in parts of the state.
Oteh said troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, deployed at Lamingo, raided suspected criminal hideouts at Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills in Jos North Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of 11 suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate.
The operation was reinforced by intelligence obtained from two victims who were abducted from Gwafan Community on September 18. During preliminary investigation, the victims identified three of the arrested suspects as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction.
In a related operation at about 6pm on Saturday, troops of Sector 3 in Bassa Local Government Area conducted a cordon-and-search operation based on credible intelligence, recovering a locally fabricated rifle and arresting a suspect.
Similarly, troops of Sector 8 deployed in Mangu Local Government Area apprehended another suspected criminal during a confidence-building patrol along the Tul–Ntam–Angwan Mata–Deng-Deng axis.
The suspect, who allegedly attempted to conceal a weapon on sighting the troops around the Water Board Area, was searched, leading to the recovery of a locally fabricated automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a mobile phone.
The 13 suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation to unravel the activities of the syndicate, identify other members and facilitate follow-up operations against fleeing suspects.
The Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for their professionalism, dexterity and timely response during the operations.
Dangana charged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.
He also appreciated the support and cooperation of residents of Plateau State and other stakeholders, stressing that timely provision of credible information remains critical to ongoing efforts against criminal elements and the consolidation of peace across the state.
The commander reassured residents of the operation’s commitment to protecting lives and property while strengthening existing peace and security efforts across Plateau State.
