Troops under Operation Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapping victims and arrested 12 suspects in separate operations across Plateau State.
The operation’s Media Information Officer, Captain Polycarp Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Oteh, troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, acted on intelligence on Saturday and moved against suspected kidnappers around Rayfield and other parts of Jos North Local Government Area.
The troops searched suspected criminal locations in Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills, arresting 11 suspects.
Oteh said information from two people allegedly kidnapped from Gwafan Community on September 18 also helped the operation. The victims later identified three suspects as alleged members of the group involved in their abduction.
In Bassa Local Government Area, Sector 3 troops searched an area after receiving intelligence on suspected criminal activities. The operation, carried out around 6 pm on Saturday, led to another arrest and the seizure of a locally manufactured rifle.
In Mangu Local Government Area, troops on patrol along the Tul, Ntam, Angwan Mata and Deng-Deng axis also arrested a suspected criminal near the Water Board area after he allegedly tried to hide a weapon on seeing the soldiers.
A search recovered a locally fabricated automatic firearm, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a mobile phone.
The military said all 12 suspects were being held for further investigation. Oteh added that investigators were working to determine their roles, identify other members of the syndicate and support efforts to arrest those still at large.
