By Desire Emmanuel
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have rescued a retired senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Tunde Ajanaku, following his abduction in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The retired senior officer was kidnapped on Monday, January 5, around midnight from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road, Bassa Local Government Area.
However, after receiving a distress call regarding his abduction, troops of Sectors 1 and 3, Operation ENDURING PEACE mobilised and trailed the kidnappers along their withdrawal route through the Wildlife Park area of the town.
The troops, in conjunction with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Tracking Team and local vigilantes, sustained intensive search and rescue operations, combing suspected criminal hideouts across caves and rocky high grounds within the general area.
Later in the day, around 2:00 p.m., the kidnappers contacted the wife of the retired officer and demanded a ransom of N200 million.
Also, having observed the overwhelming presence and pressure from pursuing troops, the kidnappers issued threats to kill the victim if search operations were not halted.
Consequently, troops tactically switched to covert operations, which culminated in the rescue of Colonel Ajanaku around 5:30 p.m. on Monday on the outskirts of the Rafiki Axis, Bassa Local Government Area, without any ransom payment.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Army on Tuesday, January 6, regarding the incident, the rescued retired officer is currently undergoing medical examination at the Operation ENDURING PEACE Medical Centre and is in stable condition.
“Meanwhile, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE are continuing aggressive combing operations within the surrounding forests to apprehend the fleeing kidnappers and dismantle their criminal network,” the army said.
