In what the military is touting as a “major victory,” troops from the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), claim to have struck a blow against kidnappers in Plateau State. According to official sources, soldiers shot dead a suspected kidnapper, rounded up three alleged informants, and seized a handful of weapons,moves the Army says prove its “unwavering commitment” to security in the region.

The operation, which was triggered by frantic calls from Dong Community residents in Jos North, unfolded after reports of multiple kidnappings. The Army insists its troops acted on “credible intelligence,” swooping in to confront the alleged criminals. In the ensuing shootout, one suspect was killed, with the military quick to declare the immediate threat “neutralised.”

After the dust settled, soldiers displayed their haul: an AK-47, a magazine, and four rounds of ammunition. The Army was quick to point out that the dead suspect was a local, fueling speculation about “insider involvement” in the area’s ongoing kidnapping crisis. Security sources wasted no time linking the suspect to a “notorious syndicate,” suggesting he used his community ties to aid criminal activity.

Not stopping there, the Army paraded three more individuals, branding them as informants for the kidnappers. Authorities allege these suspects provided “critical intelligence and logistical support,” helping the gang evade capture and target residents. The military is hailing these arrests as a “major step” in dismantling the supposed kidnapping network.

All suspects and the recovered weapons are now in military custody, with security operatives promising more follow-up raids to hunt down any gang members who escaped. The Army has issued the usual assurances, vowing to “leave no stone unturned” in its quest to restore order and bring all perpetrators to justice.

In a familiar refrain, the Nigerian Army called on residents to stay alert and keep feeding information to security agencies, insisting that public cooperation is “crucial” to ongoing operations. The military’s message: trust us, and together we’ll stamp out crime.

While the Army is eager to frame this operation as a decisive blow against kidnapping, questions remain about the true impact and the fate of those arrested. For now, the military’s narrative dominates, with officials promising that their “relentless efforts” will soon bring peace back to Plateau State.