Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have successfully rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested a suspected gunrunner in separate security operations across northern Nigeria.
According to Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, the rescue occurred on February 22, 2026, near Kukawa in Kanam Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The victims, who were abducted at gunpoint, were found abandoned by their captors in Mansur village, Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, after OPEP troops received intelligence and quickly mobilized to the scene.
“The troops were on routine patrol when they received actionable intelligence about the abduction,” Captain Oteh said in a statement.
“They immediately moved to the area, and the bandits, upon seeing the military presence, abandoned the victims and fled. The rescued individuals have been debriefed and safely reunited with their families.”
In a separate operation, OPEP troops deployed at Sanga, Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State, intercepted a 36-year-old man, Vincent Ibrahim, suspected of conveying firearms illegally. Ibrahim was apprehended during a stop-and-search operation in Kurmin Goro village while transporting five fabricated rifles to an undisclosed location in Kafanchan.
“The suspect was moving the weapons covertly, but luck ran out for him during the patrol,” the statement added. Security sources noted that the arrest may provide further intelligence on arms trafficking networks operating in the region.
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These operations form part of OPEP’s ongoing effort to curb kidnapping, banditry, and illegal arms circulation in northern Nigeria. The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and called on residents to provide intelligence that could help prevent further criminal activities.
Experts and local community leaders have lauded the troops’ swift response, emphasizing the importance of timely intelligence in thwarting abductions and intercepting illegal weapons. “Rapid deployment following credible intelligence is key to saving lives,” said a security analyst in Kaduna, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “These successes show that coordinated patrols and community cooperation are vital in tackling security challenges.”
Residents in Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States expressed relief at the operations, noting that kidnappings and arms trafficking have been a persistent source of fear in their communities.
“The news of the rescue lifts a huge burden off our minds,” said a community elder in Kanam LGA. “We hope these patrols continue, and perpetrators are brought to justice.”