Army Rescues Retired Colonel Abducted in Plateau — Ransom Demand Thwarted, Suspects Hunted Down

In a swift and meticulously planned operation, troops of Operation Enduring Peace freed a retired senior Nigerian Army officer, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd) after he was snatched by armed kidnappers from his home in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The abduction occurred in the dead of night  around 12:45 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026  when gunmen stormed his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road. Within minutes, a distress call reached Sector 1 and Sector 3 of OPEP, triggering an immediate mobilization. Soldiers trailed the fleeing bandits through the Wildlife Park, a known escape corridor for criminals operating in the region.

By early afternoon (about 2 p.m.), the kidnappers called the officer’s wife and demanded a staggering N200 million ransom threatening to execute him if security forces did not pull back. Undeterred, the Army shifted tactics — switching from overt pursuit to covert, intelligence‑driven operations to avoid endangering the hostage.

“The rescued officer is currently undergoing medical examination at the Operation Enduring Peace Medical Centre and is in stable condition,” the Army confirmed via its official X handle. He will soon be debriefed to furnish critical intelligence that could cripple the kidnapping network.

In the aftermath, OPEP units have intensified forest combs and reconnaissance missions across surrounding hills, caves and rough terrain  suspected hideouts of the fleeing gang. The military reiterated its unwavering commitment to protect lives and property, vowing to deny criminals any operational space in the joint operations zone.

This rescue comes amid a surge of violent incidents across the northwest and central states, underscoring the relentless pressure on security forces to safeguard civilians and former servicemen alike.