By Nkechi Eze
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have successfully rescued a retired senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd), following his abduction by armed criminals in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, in an operation that underscored swift response, intelligence-driven action and sustained military pressure.
The retired officer was kidnapped in the early hours of 5 January 2026, at about 12:45 a.m., from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road, Bassa LGA. Following a distress call, troops of Sectors 1 and 3 of Operation ENDURING PEACE immediately mobilised and commenced pursuit of the kidnappers, trailing them along their withdrawal route through the Wildlife Park axis.
The search and rescue operation was intensified through collaboration with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Tracking Team and local vigilante groups, as troops combed suspected criminal hideouts across caves and rocky high grounds within the general area. The sustained operation applied significant pressure on the abductors as security forces closed in on likely escape routes.
Later in the day, at about 2:00 p.m., the kidnappers contacted the wife of the abducted officer and demanded a ransom of ₦200 million. They also issued threats to kill the victim if ongoing search operations were not halted. In response, troops tactically adjusted their approach, switching to covert operations to outmanoeuvre the criminals and safeguard the life of the victim.
The strategy paid off when troops successfully rescued Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd) at about 5:30 p.m. on the same day, at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis of Bassa LGA, without the payment of any ransom.
The rescued officer has since been evacuated to the Operation ENDURING PEACE Medical Centre, where he is undergoing medical examination and has been confirmed to be in stable condition. He is expected to be debriefed to provide critical intelligence that will support ongoing follow-up operations.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have sustained aggressive combing operations within surrounding forests and difficult terrains to track down the fleeing kidnappers and dismantle their criminal network.
The Nigerian Army, through Operation ENDURING PEACE, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, stressing that criminal elements will continue to be denied freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.
