Metro
Soldiers storm forests, rescue abducted retired colonel in Plateau
Nigerian Army troops have successfully rescued a retired senior military officer, Colonel Ajanaku, who was abducted by armed men from his residence in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The retired officer was kidnapped in the early hours of Monday, January 5, 2026, at about 12:45 a.m., when gunmen reportedly stormed his home opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road. The attackers whisked him away under the cover of darkness before security could respond.
Following the incident, troops drawn from relevant military formations were immediately deployed to track the assailants. The soldiers were said to have trailed the kidnappers through the Wildlife Park axis, intensifying search-and-rescue operations around caves, forests and rocky high grounds believed to serve as criminal hideouts.
Security sources disclosed that the kidnappers later contacted the victim’s wife, demanding a ransom of N200 million while threatening to kill the retired officer if rescue operations were not stopped. Despite the threat, security forces reportedly adjusted their strategy, switching to covert operations to avoid endangering the victim.
The strategy yielded results later the same day, as Colonel Ajanaku was rescued alive at about 5:30 p.m. at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa Local Government Area. He was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for medical evaluation.
Sources said the rescued officer is stable and will be debriefed to provide useful intelligence that could aid follow-up operations against the kidnappers. Meanwhile, troops have continued combing surrounding forests and suspected hideouts as efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects remain ongoing.
Security operations in the area have been intensified to prevent further criminal activity and reassure residents of the military’s presence.
Follow Us on Google Discover
2027: Kwankwaso a goat in sheep’s clothing, secretly working for Tinubu – Atiku Campaign Council
DSS arrests Maina’s fugitive son in Abuja, hands him over to EFCC
2027: Step down if you are not working for Tinubu – Deji Adeyanju dares Obi, Kwankwaso
2027: ‘I wont join my Uncle to support Tinubu’ – Davido says
Enugu NYSC death: NAFDAC debunks claims linking corps members death to fake drugs
33 Governors cannot be wrong in supporting Tinubu – Bayo Onanuga
Security forces arrest five suspects over abduction of 20 NYSC members in Imo
Rugby star Hyron Andrews dies at 31 after accidental fall in South Africa
LAUTECH Resident Doctors halt 50-day strike as Makinde intervenes
House Officers, Nurses, Radiographers, Others wanted as DELSUTH opens recruitment – Apply Now
FG raises health fund allocation to N40.76bn, extends insurance to prison inmates
Erisco Foods announces 13 job openings across Nigeria – Apply Now
Tinubu reappoints Bala Bila as INEC commissioner, nominates six others
2027: ‘Don’t trust your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people’ – Wike warns Rivers voters against Atiku, Amaechi, Obi
BREAKING: Cross River PDP Chairman Venatius Ikem resigns, cites leadership crisis
Erisco Foods announces 13 job openings across Nigeria – Apply Now
2027: Atiku, Obi, Makinde, Adebayo, Duke hold talks with six opposition parties
‘You Betrayed Osun People’ — Adeleke, Davido face backlash over support for Tinubu
Ex-Senator Bello Mandiya’s body found in Abuja home three days after he slipped, hit his head in the bathroom
Tinubu reappoints Bala Bila as INEC commissioner, nominates six others
JUST IN: Finnish Appeal Court reduces Simon Ekpa’s jail term to four years, upholds terrorism conviction
Zamfara govt set to empower 36,176 residents with Dangote shares
Over 10 soldiers, four civilians feared dead as Boko Haram terrorists attack Borno military base
Umahi reopens first Niger bridge after emergency repairs, displays Tinubu’s photos
‘I love Islam, I’ve sent people to Mecca to pray for me, Nigeria for 25 years’ – Akpabio
Lagos govt announces 3-day traffic diversion on Independence bridge for emergency repairs
Elon Musk unveils Tesla’s ‘flying’ car in stunning demonstration
Panic in Rivers community as pipeline explosion injures 20, razes over 50 houses
Tension escalates as thugs attack NDC secretariat in Edo, destroy properties
