Troops Rescue Abducted Retired Army Officer During Intelligence -Led Operation in Plateau
Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have successfully rescued a retired senior military officer, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd), following his abduction by unidentified gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, January 5, 2026, at about 12:45 a.m., when the assailants stormed the residence of the retired officer located opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
Upon receiving the distress report, troops from Sectors 1 and 3 of OPSH immediately responded and trailed the kidnappers along their withdrawal route through the Wildlife Park area. The troops, working in synergy with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) tracking team and local vigilantes, sustained intensive search-and-rescue operations across caves, forests and rocky high grounds suspected to be criminal hideouts.
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Later in the day, at about 2:00 p.m., the kidnappers contacted the wife of the victim and demanded a ransom of N200 million for his release. The abductors, having observed the overwhelming presence of security forces in pursuit, threatened to kill the victim if the search and rescue operations were not halted.
In response, troops tactically switched to covert operations, a move that paid off as Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd) was rescued alive at about 5:30 p.m. on the same day at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA.
The rescued retired officer has since been evacuated to the OPSH Medical Centre, where he is undergoing medical checks and stabilization. He is expected to be debriefed to provide vital intelligence that will aid follow-up operations against the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, troops have continued aggressive combing of the surrounding forests and adjoining areas in sustained pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers, as security forces intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the axis.
Operation Safe Haven has reassured residents of Plateau State of its commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property, while urging the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.
By PRNigeria
