Troops Rescue Six Abducted Travellers in Plateau, Search Ongoing for Missing Driver
Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) rescued six travellers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sanyin Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The rescue operation followed a swift response by troops of Sector 6 Operation Enduring Peace after receiving a distress call in the early hours of Friday.
According to the Media Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Captain Polycarp Oteh, troops immediately mobilised to the area and successfully rescued six of the abducted victims, while efforts continue to locate the remaining victim, identified as the driver of the vehicle.
“At the early hours of today, troops of Sector 6 Operation Enduring Peace responded to a distress call on a kidnapping incident and swiftly mobilised, successfully rescuing six out of the kidnapped victims,” Oteh said.
“Deliberate effort is currently ongoing to rescue the driver. There is no cause for alarm. Troops are on top of the situation.”
The incident occurred when suspected kidnappers reportedly intercepted a vehicle conveying passengers from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Jos, Plateau State.
On arrival at the scene, troops discovered an ash-coloured Honda vehicle abandoned by the roadside with its occupants missing.
A search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched in the surrounding bushes, leading to the successful rescue of six victims identified as Ibrahim Usman, Ali Ibrahim, Sabiu Idris, Private Ibrahim Musa, Hamisu Abubakar and Joshua Johanna.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were travelling from Lafia to Jos when their vehicle was intercepted by the kidnappers along the route.
Security sources said intensive search operations are continuing in the area to locate the missing driver and prevent further criminal activities along the highway.
Operation Safe Haven said troops remain on high alert, with routine patrols ongoing across the Joint Operations Area to protect communities and critical infrastructure from security threats.