Troops Rescue Three Kidnapped Women in Plateau

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) rescued three young women unharmed after confronting their abductors in Makundang village, located in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security forces launched the search-and-rescue operation following a distress report at about 8:50 pm on Wednesday.

Troops from OPEP Sector 5 swiftly responded to the scene, pressuring the kidnappers into abandoning their victims—identified as Miss Fatigi Aguna, 19; Lovina Bawa, 18; and Barsheba Appolos, 18—before fleeing into the surrounding bush.

The operation brought immense relief to the local community after news of the abduction initially triggered widespread panic.

“When we heard that the girls were taken, everybody was afraid,” said Makundang resident Jude Simon.

Expressing gratitude for the rapid military response, another resident noted, “If they had delayed, we don’t know what would have happened to those girls. Their quick action saved three families from sorrow.”

A relative of one victim shared the family’s anguish, stating, “We were in serious pain. We did not know if we would see our daughter alive again. We thank God, and we thank the soldiers for bringing them back to us safely.”

Confirming the successful operation in Jos, OPEP spokesperson Captain Polycarp Oteh stated, “Yes, the three of them were rescued by our men.”

He emphasised that the intervention aligns with broader security efforts to safeguard lives and property across the Joint Operations Area.

Local community leaders praised the troops’ decisive intervention, noting that timely reporting enables security agencies to act effectively.

OPEP personnel have since intensified tracking operations to apprehend the fleeing kidnappers, while Oteh urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to support lasting peace in Bokkos.