Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have rescued seven travellers abducted by suspected kidnappers in Plateau State.

It was gathered that the victims were rescued along the Riyom-Abuja highway during a night-time operation on Monday.

Security sources from Operation Enduring Peace, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed the rescue operation to PUNCH Online in Jos on Tuesday.

According to them, the rescue followed a swift response to a distress call at about 9:30 p.m. near Sopp village in Riyom Local Government Area.

According to the sources, troops deployed under Sector 6 of the operation arrived at the scene and discovered an abandoned vehicle.

“On getting to the location, we met a blue Opel Vectra abandoned in the middle of the road with no occupants. That immediately triggered a search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bush,” a security source said.

The sources said troops made contact with the suspected abductors during the operation, forcing them to flee and abandon their captives.

“During the operation, we made contact with the suspected kidnappers. Under sustained military pressure, they fled into the bush and abandoned their captives,” the source added.

The rescued victims were identified as ASP Babagida Ishaku, Mr. Auwulu Haruna, Dung Jerry Dang, Anas Idris, Hussaini Mohammed, Idris Abdullahi and Mrs. Kangyang Sunday.

The sources said preliminary accounts from the victims indicated they had boarded the vehicle in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, and were travelling to Jos when they were intercepted by gunmen.

“They told us they boarded the vehicle in Akwanga and were on their way to Jos when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen,” another security source said.

All seven victims were rescued unharmed, the sources confirmed, adding that “efforts have been intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.”

The sources further stated that troops have sustained patrols across the Joint Operations Area as part of broader efforts to secure communities.

“Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have continued routine patrols across the Joint Operations Area to protect commuters, schools, places of worship and other critical national infrastructure as part of sustained efforts to improve security across Plateau State,” the source said.

Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was not immediately available when contacted on the matter. (PUNCH)