Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have rescued six passengers abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sanyin Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, while a search is still underway for the missing driver of the vehicle.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Friday when armed men intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling from Lafia in Nasarawa State to Jos, the Plateau State capital. The attackers were said to have forced the vehicle off the road before whisking away all occupants into nearby forested terrain.
According to the Media Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Captain Polycarp Oteh, troops under Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace responded promptly after receiving a distress call from the area. He explained that the swift military intervention led to the successful rescue of six of the kidnapped victims.
Troops immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation in surrounding bushes after discovering an ash-coloured Honda vehicle abandoned by the roadside, with no occupants inside.
While six victims have been reunited with security personnel, authorities confirmed that the driver of the vehicle is still missing, with ongoing efforts intensified to trace his whereabouts and ensure his safe rescue.
Captain Oteh assured residents that troops have the situation under control, adding that there is no cause for alarm as operations continue in the area to track down the suspects and recover the remaining victim.
