Troops rescue 12-year-old boy sold by uncle to kidnappers in Plateau

Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) have successfully rescued a 12-year-old boy allegedly sold to a kidnapping syndicate by his uncle three years ago, during a coordinated raid on criminal hideouts in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In a statement released on Saturday, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, the Media Information Officer for OPSH, confirmed that the boy was rescued on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, as part of a broader counter-crime operation targeting violent criminal networks in the state.

“Thorough investigation revealed that the boy was sold out three years ago by his uncle, who is currently at large,” Maj. Zhakom said.

According to the military spokesperson, the minor has since been handed over to the Councillor representing Zamko Ward in Langtang North Local Government Area, who will facilitate his safe reunion with his immediate family.

The rescue operation underscores the disturbing trend of child trafficking within family units, prompting fresh calls for stronger community surveillance and public education to identify and report signs of abuse or exploitation.

In a related development, OPSH troops carried out a separate operation in Wase Local Government Area on Friday, July 24, following credible intelligence that bandits armed with AK-47 rifles were moving along the Kampani-Kombodoro road mounted on motorcycles.

Maj. Zhakom said troops swiftly mobilized and laid an ambush along known bandit routes. Upon contact, a firefight ensued, forcing the heavily armed criminals to abandon their weapons and flee into nearby bushlands.

“Troops engaged them with a heavy volume of fire, compelling the bandits to escape, leaving behind arms and ammunition,” he said.

Zhakom added that pursuit operations are ongoing, with troops currently tracking the fleeing bandits as part of efforts to dismantle the criminal networks threatening peace in Plateau and neighboring states.

The rescue of the trafficked minor and the successful repelling of bandits highlight the growing security challenges in Plateau State, which remains a hotspot for communal clashes, banditry, and abduction-for-ransom schemes.

Security experts say the sale of a child by a relative marks a deepening of criminal desperation and reflects the urgency for multi-sector collaboration between the military, community leaders, social services, and law enforcement.

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“We’re not just dealing with external threats but internal moral decay,” said Dr. Raymond Jatau, a criminologist at the University of Jos. “This case shows why psychological trauma support and community reintegration are as vital as tactical operations.”

Residents are urged to provide actionable intelligence to security agencies to enable swift intervention, especially in rural areas where criminal syndicates continue to exploit weak law enforcement presence.

Authorities also reaffirmed their zero-tolerance stance on trafficking, illegal arms possession, and child exploitation, vowing to bring all perpetrators — including the absconded uncle — to justice.