Army Rescues Kidnap Victim, Recovers ₦8m Ransom in Plateau

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued a kidnapped woman and recovered ₦8 million in ransom money in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what the army is calling a breakthrough against kidnapping networks operating in the state.

The operation followed intelligence gathered during the interrogation of an arrested suspect who confessed to involvement in the abduction and revealed where the victim was being held. Acting on that information, troops moved in and secured the woman’s release.

Army spokesperson Chinonso Oteh confirmed the rescue, describing it as “a breakthrough against kidnapping networks operating in the area.” The recovery of the ransom money alongside the victim adds to the significance of the operation.

Part of a Broader Push

Operation Enduring Peace is a joint task force deployed across Plateau State as part of ongoing military efforts to dismantle armed groups responsible for kidnapping, communal violence, and banditry in the state. Plateau has been one of the most volatile flashpoints in Nigeria’s broader security crisis, with multiple communities suffering recurring attacks over the past several years.

The rescue comes days after President Tinubu convened an emergency security meeting in response to escalating violence in Plateau and Benue states. It also follows the foiling of a mob attack on an NSCDC outpost in the Vom area, suggesting that security forces in the state are stepping up both intelligence and operational responses.

For the rescued woman’s family, Monday’s news brings relief after what would have been a harrowing ordeal. For security officials, it is a reminder that patient intelligence work — rather than reactive deployments alone — remains the most reliable path to rescuing victims and dismantling the networks that profit from human misery.

Sources: Times NG, Punch