Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) have gunned down three suspected kidnappers during a botched ransom collection in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The operation, carried out on Monday, August 4, followed the abduction of Corporal Munyal Abdullahi, a soldier attached to the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos. Abdullahi was reportedly kidnapped on Saturday, August 2, while travelling to Abuja.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the incident on X (formerly Twitter), the kidnappers were intercepted along the Jos–Makurdi road at Rafin Sanyi, during an attempt to retrieve a ransom of ₦500,000 from the victim’s family.
Makama said troops from Sector 6 of OPSH, in collaboration with the EIB STRATOC team, launched a coordinated manhunt across Farin Lamba, Maraban Jama’a, and Ganawuri communities in Jos South and Riyom LGAs.
“At about 5:35 p.m., a suspect was observed with a bag suspected to contain the ransom money en route to a POS shop,” he quoted a military source. “The troops monitored him as he diverted through a bush path to link up with his gang.”
Sensing he was being followed, the suspect reportedly raised an alarm, prompting other gang members to flee. Troops gave chase and engaged the kidnappers, killing three of them in the ensuing exchange.
Items recovered from the scene included ₦312,000 in cash, two knives, three mobile phones, and one AirPod.
Amid the chaos, Corporal Abdullahi reportedly managed to escape from captivity and safely rejoined his unit.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but the operation marks another success in OPSH’s ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and banditry in Plateau and its environs.
