Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued seven travellers who were abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Riyom-Abuja highway in Plateau State.
The victims regained their freedom during a military operation carried out on Monday night after troops responded to a distress call near Sopp village in Riyom Local Government Area.
Security sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, said personnel under Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace arrived at the location around 9:30 p.m. and found a blue Opel Vectra abandoned in the middle of the road, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue mission.
According to the sources, the troops combed the surrounding bushes and eventually confronted the suspected kidnappers, who fled under sustained military pressure, abandoning the captives.
The rescued victims were identified as ASP Babagida Ishaku, Auwulu Haruna, Dung Jerry Dang, Anas Idris, Hussaini Mohammed, Idris Abdullahi and Mrs. Kangyang Sunday.
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Preliminary findings indicated that the victims had boarded the vehicle in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, and were travelling to Jos before they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen along the highway.
The military confirmed that all seven victims were rescued unharmed, adding that efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Security sources also disclosed that troops have intensified patrols across the Joint Operations Area to enhance the safety of commuters, protect schools, places of worship and other critical infrastructure in Plateau State.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comments on the incident as of the time of filing this report.