Fresh details have emerged on the dramatic kidnapping and subsequent rescue of retired army officer, Colonel Ajanaku, by troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) in Plateau State.
Colonel Ajanaku (rtd) was abducted in the early hours of Monday, January 5, 2026, from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa Local Government Area of the state. The assailants, described as unidentified gunmen, struck around 12:45 a.m., whisking the retired senior officer away under the cover of darkness.
Security sources disclosed that troops from Sectors 1 and 3 of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Enduring Peace, swiftly mobilised following reports of the abduction. The soldiers immediately launched a pursuit, trailing the kidnappers through the Wildlife Park, believed to be part of the criminals’ escape route.
The operation was intensified with the involvement of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) tracking team and local vigilantes. Search-and-rescue efforts were sustained across caves and rocky high grounds within the area, locations suspected to serve as hideouts for criminal elements.
Later in the day, at about 2:00 p.m., the kidnappers reportedly established contact with Colonel Ajanaku’s wife, demanding a ransom of ₦200 million for his release. The sources revealed that the abductors, sensing the heavy military presence closing in on them, issued threats that the victim would be killed if security forces did not withdraw.
Undeterred, the troops tactically adjusted their strategy, switching from overt pursuit to covert operations. This calculated move paid off when Colonel Ajanaku was successfully rescued at about 5:30 p.m. on the outskirts of the Rafiki Axis, still within Bassa LGA.
The retired officer was freed unharmed and has since been taken to the OPEP Medical Centre, where he is undergoing routine medical checks. He is expected to be debriefed to provide intelligence that could aid ongoing follow-up operations.
Meanwhile, security forces have continued combing surrounding forests and difficult terrains in a bid to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.
The successful rescue has been described by observers as a boost to ongoing security efforts in Plateau State and a demonstration of the resolve of OPEP troops to tackle kidnapping and related crimes in the region.
