A security drama played out in Plateau State as troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) smashed a kidnap plot and rescued a retired Nigerian Army officer, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd), without paying a single naira in ransom.
The retired colonel was abducted in the early hours of January 5, 2026, at about 12:45 a.m., from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa Local Government Area.
Following a distress call, troops from Sectors 1 and 3 of Operation Enduring Peace swung into action, launching a hot pursuit of the kidnappers through the Wildlife Park. The operation was backed by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Tracking Team and local vigilantes, with search teams combing forests, caves and rocky hideouts.
By about 1400 hours, the kidnappers contacted the victim’s wife, demanding a ransom of Two Hundred Million Naira (₦200,000,000.00) and threatening to kill the retired officer if the military search continued.
Unfazed, troops switched tactics and moved covertly. The gamble paid off. At about 1730 hours on January 5, 2026, Colonel Ajanaku (Rtd) was rescued alive at the outskirts of the Rafiki Axis in Bassa LGA — no ransom paid.
The rescued officer is now receiving medical attention at the Operation Enduring Peace Medical Centre and is said to be in stable condition. He will be debriefed to support ongoing operations.
Meanwhile, troops have intensified manhunts in surrounding forests to arrest the fleeing kidnappers and dismantle their network, as the Nigerian Army restated its resolve to protect lives and property and deny criminals freedom of action.
