Troops rescue retired colonel abducted in Plateau

The Nigerian Army troops have rescued a retired senior military officer, Col. Ajanaku (rtd), who was abducted by gunmen from his residence in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Zagazola gathered that the retired officer was kidnapped at about 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 5 from his house located opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road.

The sources said troops drawn from relevant sectors promptly responded to the incident and trailed the kidnappers along their escape route through the Wildlife Park, while search and rescue operations were intensified around caves and rocky high grounds suspected to be criminal hideouts.

It was gathered that the abductors later contacted the victim’s wife and demanded a ransom of N200 million, while threatening to kill the retired officer if rescue efforts were not halted.

However, security forces were said to have switched to covert operations, leading to the successful rescue of Col. Ajanaku at about 5:30 p.m. on the same day at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA.

The rescued officer was said to be undergoing medical checks at a military medical facility and would be debriefed to provide intelligence for follow-up operations.

Sources added that troops had continued combing surrounding forests in pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers.