Troops of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE (JTF OPEP), have raided a kidnappers’ hideout in Plateau State, arresting suspects and recovering weapons in a swift operation based on credible intelligence.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, January 6, targeted a location near Lantom Village in the Kadarko District of Wase Local Government Area, an area reportedly plagued by kidnapping and armed robbery activities.
During the initial raid, troops arrested four suspected kidnappers and recovered a locally fabricated rifle, an axe and a machete. Preliminary investigations, according to the military, confirmed the suspects’ involvement in recent criminal activities within the district. However, two other members of the gang reportedly escaped during the operation, fleeing with an AK-47 rifle.
Military sources said that following their arrest, the suspects cooperated with troops by disclosing the location of a hidden cache of arms and ammunition and volunteered to lead soldiers to the site for recovery.
“While leading troops to the arms cache on the outskirts of Kadarko, the suspects made a desperate attempt to escape by trying to snatch the weapon of one of the soldiers,” the military said. “They were decisively neutralised in the process.”
The Nigerian Army said follow-up operations are ongoing to apprehend the two fleeing suspects and recover the missing AK-47 rifle.
Commending the troops for their gallantry, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General E.F. Oyinlola, praised their commitment to sustaining peace within the Joint Operations Area.
He reaffirmed that troops of 3 Division and JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE remain resolute in the discharge of their lawful mandate to safeguard lives and property, while stressing that the cooperation of law-abiding citizens remains crucial to the success of ongoing security operations.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Captain Joshua Atu John, Acting Military Information Officer, JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, and dated January 7, 2026.
