Troops operating under Sector 9 of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, have successfully liberated eight kidnapped individuals following a highly coordinated offensive raid in the Pandam Forest of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The strategic operation commenced during the early hours of Wednesday, June 24, at approximately 3:00 a.m. Acting on verifiable and time-sensitive intelligence regarding the location of a notorious kidnapping ring, troops stationed in Namu Town advanced deep into the forest to dislodge the criminals and rescue the captives.
Upon infiltrating the hideout, the military personnel engaged the armed bandits in a fierce gun battle. Attempting to evade capture, the criminals fired sporadically while retreating further into the thick vegetation. In the ensuing chaos of the gunfight, three of the held hostages managed to break loose from their captors and run toward the safety of the advancing troops.
Undeterred by the rugged terrain, the military launched an immediate, meticulous sweep and clearance operation across the area. Their persistence yielded further success as they discovered and secured five additional victims who were still pinned down inside the criminal camp.
Confirming the breakthrough in an official press statement released on Friday, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, stated that all eight rescued individuals are currently safe and unharmed.
“The victims are being given necessary medical attention and administrative care before being officially reunited with their respective families,” Captain Oteh noted.
He further emphasized that the military remains resolute in its mission to eliminate banditry and kidnapping networks within the region. Aggressive follow-up exploitation operations are actively underway in the Pandam Forest axis to track down, apprehend, or neutralize the fleeing remnants of the criminal syndicate.
Local authorities and community leaders have praised the swift, intelligence-led intervention of the troops, urging residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely information to ensure lasting peace in Plateau State.
