Troops of 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) have rescued 16 passengers kidnapped along Jos – Mangu road in Plateau State.
Media Information Officer, OPSH, Maj. Samson Zhakom disclosed this on Monday.
He said the mission to rescue the kidnapped passengers began when troops conducting Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A discovered an empty vehicle abandoned by the roadside at Mararaban Kantoma in Mangu Local Government Area of the state at about 9:00 pm on Sunday, 13 April 2025.
Suspecting that the occupants of the vehicle must have been kidnapped, the troops immediately launched a search in the nearby bushes. They encountered the kidnappers, who, on sighting the troops opened fire, but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the security forces, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee.
Troops exploited the general area and rescued all 16 abducted passengers which included 6 children. Troops administered first aid to some of the rescued victims who sustained minor injuries during the incident. Thereafter, troops escorted the victims to safety to continue their journey to Jos Metropolis.
Zhakom said that troops are currently on the lookout for the fleeing kidnappers suspected to have sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of gun fire.
“OPSH reiterates its commitment to protecting lives and property within the Joint Operations Area, while troops remain motivated to deny miscreants freedom of action”, he stated.
