Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have successfully rescued a retired senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd), following his abduction by gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, in a swift operation that security authorities say underscores renewed efforts to dismantle criminal networks in the region.
Colonel Ajanaku was kidnapped in the early hours of Monday, 5 January 2026, at about 12:45 a.m. from his residence located opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa LGA. According to military sources, the assailants struck under the cover of darkness and fled immediately after seizing the retired officer, triggering panic within the community and raising fresh concerns over insecurity in parts of Plateau State.
Upon receiving a distress alert shortly after the incident, troops of Sectors 1 and 3 under Operation ENDURING PEACE were immediately mobilised. Acting on preliminary intelligence, the soldiers swiftly trailed the kidnappers along their suspected withdrawal route through the Wildlife Park axis, an area known for its rugged terrain and dense cover that has previously been exploited by criminal elements.
The rescue effort was reinforced through collaboration with the Defence Intelligence Agency Tracking Team and local vigilantes familiar with the difficult landscape. Together, they launched an intensive search-and-rescue operation, combing through suspected hideouts, caves and rocky high grounds within the general area believed to be along the kidnappers’ escape corridor. Military sources said the coordinated operation was sustained throughout the day, combining ground patrols, intelligence tracking and community-based information.
As pressure mounted on the abductors, developments took a dramatic turn later in the day. At about 2:00 p.m., the kidnappers reportedly contacted the wife of the retired officer, demanding a ransom of ₦200 million for his release. During the call, the abductors allegedly issued threats to kill their captive if ongoing military search operations were not halted, a tactic security analysts say is commonly employed to force authorities into standing down.
Rather than yield to the threats, troops tactically adjusted their approach. Military authorities said overt patrols were reduced in favour of covert manoeuvres designed to maintain pressure on the kidnappers without exposing the victim to immediate danger. This calculated shift, officials noted, was aimed at disorienting the abductors while sustaining intelligence-led tracking of their movements.
The strategy paid off later that evening. At about 5:30 p.m. on the same day, troops successfully rescued Colonel Ajanaku at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA. Crucially, the operation was executed without the payment of any ransom, dealing a significant blow to the kidnappers’ financial motive and reinforcing the military’s stance against negotiating with criminal groups.
The rescued officer was immediately evacuated to the Operation ENDURING PEACE Medical Centre, where he underwent medical examination. Military sources confirmed that he was in stable condition and responding well to care. He is expected to be debriefed in the coming days to provide intelligence that could assist in follow-up operations aimed at tracking down the perpetrators and uncovering their wider criminal network.
Security officials described the rescue as a testament to the effectiveness of rapid response, inter-agency cooperation and local intelligence in countering kidnapping and violent crime. They also acknowledged the role of local vigilantes, whose knowledge of the terrain and communities helped narrow down search areas and sustain operational momentum.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have continued aggressive combing operations across surrounding forests and difficult terrains in a bid to apprehend the fleeing kidnappers. Military authorities said the objective is not only to arrest those directly involved in the abduction but also to dismantle any support structures enabling criminal activities in the area.
The abduction and subsequent rescue of Colonel Ajanaku come amid persistent security challenges in parts of Plateau State, where incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery and communal violence have periodically threatened stability. In recent months, security agencies have stepped up operations across flashpoints, combining military deployments with intelligence gathering and community engagement.
Analysts note that the kidnapping of a retired senior military officer underscores the audacity of criminal groups operating in the region, but also highlights the importance of decisive and coordinated security responses. They argue that successful rescues without ransom payments can help deter future kidnappings by weakening the economic incentives that fuel the crime.
In a statement following the operation, the Nigerian Army, through Operation ENDURING PEACE, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the Joint Operations Area. The military stressed that it would continue to deny criminal elements freedom of action and urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information.
Residents of the Rukuba Road and Bassa LGA communities expressed relief over the safe rescue of the retired officer, describing it as a morale boost at a time of heightened anxiety over insecurity. Community leaders called on authorities to sustain the momentum of security operations and to address the root causes of criminality, including unemployment, proliferation of arms and exploitation of difficult terrain by armed groups.
As follow-up operations continue, security officials say the focus remains on ensuring that those responsible for the abduction are brought to justice, while strengthening surveillance and rapid-response capabilities to prevent similar incidents. The successful rescue of Colonel Ajanaku, they maintain, sends a clear message that criminal acts will be met with resolute and professional action.
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