Troops of 3 Division, Nigerian army, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have rescued 16 passengers kidnapped along Jos – Mangu road in Plateau State.
Its Media Information Officer, Maj. Zhakom in a statement issued Monday said the rescue operation began when troops conducting Operation Lafiyan Jama’a discovered an empty vehicle abandoned by the roadside at Mararaban Kantoma in Mangu Local Government Area of the State at about 9p.m local time on 13 April 2025.
He stressed that the troops immediately searched the nearby bushes to trace the occupants of the vehicle suspected to have been kidnapped.
Zhakom explained that the kidnappers, on sighting the troops, opened fire, but the troops overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower forcing them to abandon the victims and fled.
He noted: “Troops exploited the general area and rescued all 16 abducted passengers which included six children.
Zhakom said the troops administered first aid to some of the rescued victims who sustained minor injuries during the incident.
He added that troops escorted the victims to safety to continue their journey to Jos Metropolis.
Zhakom noted that the troops are on the lookout for the fleeing kidnappers suspected to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter with troops.
