Military thwarts abduction of pastor and spouse, rescues ten hostages in Plateau and Kaduna

Troops from Operation Enduring Peace have successfully prevented multiple kidnapping attempts, including the planned abduction of a pastor and his wife, and rescued ten victims during separate operations in Plateau and Kaduna states.

A military spokesperson disclosed that the rescue missions were carried out within the last 48 hours. He noted that the troops conducted aggressive manhunts for fleeing suspects and reaffirmed the military’s resolve to secure highways and communities within the joint operations area.

In Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops responded to a distress call around 12:30 a.m. on June 5, 2026, after suspected kidnappers blocked the highway along the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sayin axis.

A tactical team arrived to find an abandoned ash-coloured Honda vehicle. A search of the surrounding bushes led to the rescue of six kidnapped passengers who had boarded a commercial vehicle from Lafia, Nasarawa State, heading to Jos. The driver remains missing, and search efforts are ongoing.

Meanwhile, in Bokkos Local Government Area, also in Plateau State, troops foiled an ongoing abduction attempt in Faggem Village on the same day. The criminals abandoned their targets and fled into a forest, but the soldiers pursued and rescued a pastor and his wife. The couple, who sustained injuries during the attack, were taken to a medical clinic in Bokkos for treatment.

In a separate incident in Kaduna State, troops stationed at Ungwan Gora in Sanga Local Government Area responded early on June 6, 2026, to reports of terrorists blocking the highway between Rafi Tagwai and Angwan Dariya. Upon arrival, they discovered that passengers in a commercial vehicle had been abducted. Eight empty cases of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered at the scene. Troops launched a rescue operation into the adjoining forest and successfully rescued two injured passengers. Efforts to locate other kidnapped occupants are continuing, and the rescued victims were taken to a hospital in Fadan Karshi District.

The military command reiterated that Operation Enduring Peace will maintain its operations to rid highways and communities of criminal elements.