By Golok Nanmwa, Jos

Troops of Sector 9, Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, have rescued eight kidnapped victims during a deliberate offensive operation conducted at Pandam Forest in the Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, and made available to newsmen in Jos on Friday.

According to the statement, the operation was carried out at about 3:00am on Wednesday following credible intelligence on the presence of suspected kidnappers within the forest.

The statement said troops engaged the kidnappers in a firefight after coming under sporadic gunfire as the suspects attempted to evade arrest.

It explained that amid the exchange, three of the kidnapped victims escaped from their captors, while troops intensified exploitation and clearance operations across the forest.

“Subsequent exploitation and thorough combing of the forest by the troops led to the rescue of five additional abducted victims, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to eight,” the statement said.

It added that the rescued victims were in safe condition and that efforts were ongoing to reunite them with their respective families.

The military further stated that the successful operation had received commendation from members of the local communities, who expressed readiness to continue supporting security agencies with credible information to facilitate the arrest of criminal elements.

The statement noted that troops were currently pursuing the fleeing kidnappers with the aim of apprehending or neutralising them.

Operation Enduring Peace appreciated citizens for their cooperation and urged continued support towards disrupting criminal activities and restoring lasting peace across the Joint Operations Area.

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