Six Abductees Freed by Military in Plateau State Operations

In two separate operations in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops from Sector 2 of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) freed six people who had been abducted, according to the Army. The Army reported that around midday on October 6, soldiers stationed at Kukawa acted on intelligence about suspected terrorists moving toward Wanka Village in Wase LGA. The troops' rapid response caused the terrorists to escape on motorcycles. While searching the area, the soldiers found two abducted victims who had been left behind by the fleeing terrorists. The two were identified as Muhammed Jibo, 14, and Muhammed Yahaya, 12. They informed the troops that they had been seized on September 6 while traveling to meet their father at a farm in Dadin Kowa Village, Kanam Local Government Area. In a different operation that same day at about 11:00 a.m., troops based at Yuli conducting a fighting patrol encountered suspected terrorists on the edge of Yuli Village in Wase LGA. During the clash, the terrorists left four abducted victims behind and escaped into the forest. Those rescued were identified as Yakubu Yahaya, 25; Yahuza Dapji, 22; Yahaya Jibo, 20; and Sani Abubakar, 18, all residents of Dadin Kowa Village in Kanam LGA. The four were turned over to the Village Head of Yuli for further action as needed. Troops have maintained offensive operations and regular patrols throughout the OPEP Joint Operations Area to protect schools, communities and other critical national infrastructure.