Nigerian soldiers under Operation Enduring Peace have rescued Col. Joseph Ajanaku (rtd), who was abducted by gunmen in Bassa local government area of Plateau state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Army said the rescue followed a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving troops from sectors 1 and 3 of the operation.
Ajanaku was kidnapped in the early hours of Monday at about 12:45 am from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road.
The Army said troops, working with a Defence Intelligence Agency tracking team and local vigilantes, pursued the abductors along their escape route through the wildlife park.
It added that the search was intensified across caves and rocky high grounds suspected to be criminal hideouts.
According to the statement, the abductors contacted the victim’s wife at about 2:00 pm on Monday and demanded a ransom of N200 million.
The Army said the kidnappers later threatened to kill the retired officer if the ongoing search operation was not halted.
“Consequently, troops tactically switched to covert operations, which culminated in the successful rescue of Colonel Ajanaku (retd.) at about 1730 hours on 5 January 2026 at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis, Bassa LGA, Plateau state, without any ransom payment,” the statement reads.
Aliyu Danja, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 3rd division, said the rescued officer is currently undergoing medical examination.
He said Ajanaku is receiving treatment at the Operation Enduring Peace Medical Centre and is in stable condition.
Danja said the retired officer would be debriefed to provide intelligence to aid follow-up operations against the criminal network.
The Army reiterated its commitment to denying criminal elements freedom of action within the joint operations area.
It also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.