TROOPS from the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN in Plateau State successfully rescued 16 passengers who had been kidnapped along the Jos-Mangu road.
The rescue operation was initiated yesterday night around 9 PM after troops discovered an abandoned vehicle at Mararaban Kantoma in the Mangu Local Government Area.
The spokesman for Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major Samson Zhakom, confirmed the rescue in a statement today.
He reported that, upon finding the abandoned vehicle, the troops immediately searched the surrounding area and located the kidnappers holding the passengers captive.
According to Major Zhakom, the kidnappers fired at the troops, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the soldiers’ superior firepower, prompting the criminals to flee while the hostages were successfully rescued.
The statement detailed, “Troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) have rescued 16 passengers kidnapped along the Jos-Mangu road in Plateau State. The operation started when troops on Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A found an empty vehicle abandoned on the roadside at Mararaban Kantoma around 9 PM local time on April 13, 2025.
“Upon calling for assistance, the troops combed the nearby bushes to locate the occupants of the vehicle suspected to have been kidnapped. When the kidnappers saw the troops, they opened fire, but our troops quickly overpowered the assailants, forcing them to flee and leaving the victims behind. The troops searched the area and rescued all 16 abducted passengers, which included six children.
“First aid was administered to some of the rescued individuals who had suffered minor injuries during the incident, and the troops then escorted the victims to safety to continue their journey to Jos Metropolis. Meanwhile, the troops are actively searching for the fleeing kidnappers, who are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.”
The statement reaffirmed OPSH’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property within the joint operations area, emphasizing that the troops remain determined to prevent criminals from operating freely.
