Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have successfully rescued seven travelers, including a police officer, who were abducted by gunmen along the Riyom-Abuja highway in Plateau State.

The rescue operation was launched by troops deployed under Sector 6 of the security operation after they received a distress call near Sopp village in the Riyom Local Government Area.

Upon arriving at the scene, the military team discovered a blue Opel Vectra commercial vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road, prompting an immediate and intensive search-and-rescue mission into the surrounding forest.

During the tactical search, the military personnel made direct contact with the armed abductors, engaging them and exerting sustained pressure that forced the criminals to abandon their captives and flee deeper into the thick vegetation. The seven rescued victims were identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Babagida Ishaku, Mr. Auwulu Haruna, Dung Jerry Dang, Anas Idris, Hussaini Mohammed, Idris Abdullahi, and Mrs. Kangyang Sunday. Preliminary accounts from the travelers revealed they had boarded the commercial vehicle in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, and were heading to Jos when they were intercepted and taken hostage.

All seven individuals were rescued entirely unharmed and have been safely profile-registered by the authorities. Meanwhile, the military command has confirmed that routine patrol and surveillance operations have been further intensified across the joint operations area to protect commuters, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure. Joint security forces are continuing their aggressive sweeps of the forest borders in a coordinated effort to track down, identify, and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.