CITIZENS COMPASS— Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a Police officer, Babagida Ishaku, and six others from kidnappers along a highway in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims were said to be travelling along the route when the kidnappers perpetrated the act.
Fortunately, they were all rescued.
Confirming the rescue, Polycarp Oteh, spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, in a statement said the troops responded to a distress call making it possible to rescue the victims.
According to the spokesperson, the distress call was received at about 9:30 pm on Monday near Sopp village.
Oteh said troops deployed under sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace arrived at the scene and found a green Opel Vectra abandoned in the middle of the road, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bush.
According to him, the troops engaged the suspected kidnappers in a firefight, forcing them to flee and abandon their captives.
He identified the rescued victims as Babagida Ishaku, a police officer, and six others: Auwulu Haruna, Dung Jerry Dang, Anas Idris, Hussaini Mohammed, Idris Abdullahi and Kangyang Sunday.
He said the victims told the troops they had boarded the vehicle in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, and were travelling to Jos when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.
He said all seven victims were rescued unharmed, while efforts had been intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Oteh added that Operation Enduring Peace would continue to intensify efforts to ensure peace and security and protect lives and property within its joint operations area.
