Seven travellers who were abducted along the Riyom road in Plateau State have been freed by troops of Operation Enduring Peace.

It was gathered that the rescue followed a distress report on the night of Sunday, July 13, 2026, about suspected gunmen operating around Sopp community in Riyom LGA. 

Personnel from Sector 6 of the operation were immediately deployed to the area. On arrival, they met a blue Opel Vectra parked in the middle of the highway with no occupants. The team then launched a bush-combing operation around the scene.

The soldiers eventually encountered the abductors. Faced with superior firepower, the gunmen escaped into the forest and left their captives behind. Troops fired five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in the process.

All seven victims were recovered safely and uninjured. They are:

ASP Babagida Ishaku, Auwulu Haruna, Dung Jerry Dang, Anas Idris, Hussaini Mohammed, Idris Abdullahi, and Mrs. Kangyang Sunday.

The rescued persons told security agents they had boarded the vehicle in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, en route to Jos before they were waylaid by the kidnappers.

Authorities said a manhunt has commenced for the fleeing attackers. 

The military added that patrols under Operation Enduring Peace will continue across Plateau, with special attention to schools, worship centres, and other vulnerable locations as part of efforts to contain crime in the state.

Source: Zagazola Makama