Nigerian Army troops have successfully rescued a retired senior military officer, Colonel Joseph Ajanaku (rtd), from his abductors in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, ending a dramatic hostage ordeal that lasted several hours, the military and local sources said on Tuesday.

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and elements of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) launched a highly coordinated intelligence‑led rescue mission after Colonel Ajanaku was abducted at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Jos.

Swift Military Response

Military sources said the retired officer was whisked away by armed gunmen shortly after they invaded his home in the early hours of Sunday, sparking immediate distress calls from residents. Within minutes, troops were mobilised and trailed the kidnappers through wildlife park terrains, caves and rocky hideouts known to be used by criminal elements in the area.

According to security insiders, the kidnappers contacted the victim’s family, demanding a ransom of N200 million and threatening to kill the colonel if any attempt was made to rescue him by force. Despite the threats, military authorities elected to sustain pressure through covert tracking and intelligence support rather than capitulate to the ransom demand.

By early evening, troops located the hostage near the Rafiki axis of Bassa LGA and successfully freed him without reported casualties among security personnel or civilians. The colonel was promptly taken to a military medical facility for a comprehensive check‑up, authorities said.

Eyewitness Accounts

Residents of Rafiki and adjoining communities commended the swift intervention of the military. Mrs. Grace Dabo, a trader in the area, said she heard intensified helicopter and vehicular movement in the afternoon. “We began to see soldiers moving in groups around the highlands.

By evening, we heard news that the colonel had been rescued,” she said. “People here are relieved because kidnappings have become a worry for everyone.”

Another resident, Mr. Timothy Akau, described hearing sporadic gunshots as troops engaged in the final phase of the operation. “It was frightening but we were hopeful troops would bring him back alive,” he added.

Security Analysis: Growing Kidnapping Trends

Security analysts say kidnapping for ransom has grown into a multi‑dimensional threat across Nigeria, especially in volatile areas such as the North‑West, North‑Central and parts of the
Middle Belt, including Plateau State.

National statistics show households, travellers, clerics, schoolchildren and security personnel have been targets of abductions by criminal gangs and bandits over recent years.

Analysts note that although nationwide data suggested a reduction in reported kidnapping cases in 2024, the crime remains pervasive, with mass abductions, highway attacks and ransom‑driven kidnappings continuing to pose major challenges to national security.

Plateau has recorded multiple kidnapping and rescue incidents, with security operations yielding arrests of suspected kidnappers and the recovery of arms in the state in recent months. Authorities have also neutralised suspected operatives during counter‑kidnapping missions.

Background: Kidnapping in Plateau and Beyond

Kidnapping in Plateau has entrenched itself as part of the broader insecurity landscape in North‑Central Nigeria, where criminal syndicates exploit rugged terrain and porous borders with neighbouring states.

In recent years, law enforcement agencies, including military and police, have stepped up patrols, intelligence sharing and community engagement to disrupt such networks.

Security experts argue that addressing the root causes of kidnapping involves not just force but also socioeconomic interventions, enhanced intelligence capabilities and robust cooperation with local communities to reduce the incidence of abductions.

The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Plateau State and across the country, urging residents to continue providing actionable information to security agencies.