Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have arrested three suspected kidnappers in Plateau State after raiding a hideout in Bassa LGA and foiling an escape.
Troops of Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have arrested three suspected kidnappers following a raid on a criminal hideout in Mista-Ali, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The operation, carried out at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, was reportedly launched after security personnel received intelligence about the activities of suspected kidnappers operating within the area.
Acting on the information, the troops moved to the location identified as a suspected criminal hideout and conducted a raid aimed at disrupting the activities of the group and apprehending those believed to be involved.
During the operation, three suspects were successfully arrested. They were identified as Umar Aliyu, 25; Abdulrahman Adam, 25; and Bello Isa, 21.
Security personnel also encountered resistance during the operation as two other suspects reportedly escaped from the area before they could be apprehended.
In the course of the escape, one of the fleeing suspects allegedly attacked a soldier in an attempt to make his way out of the area. The suspect reportedly used a knife to stab Corporal Muhammad Adam, leaving the military personnel injured.
The wounded soldier was quickly evacuated from the scene and taken to the General Hospital, Mista-Ali, for treatment. He was subsequently admitted to the facility for further medical attention.
Despite the escape of the two suspects, the troops were able to secure the area and take three individuals into custody.
The arrests are expected to assist security authorities in gaining further information about the activities of suspected criminal elements operating in the community.
Following the raid, security personnel carried out additional searches at houses reportedly linked to the arrested suspects.
The searches were conducted as part of efforts to determine whether the suspects had kept weapons, communication equipment, documents or other materials that could connect them to kidnapping and related criminal activities.
However, the search did not produce any incriminating items, according to the available information.
The absence of suspicious materials did not end the investigation, as the three suspects remained in military custody while questioning and other investigative procedures continued.
Authorities are expected to examine the suspects’ movements, associations and possible connections with other individuals involved in kidnapping activities within Plateau State.
Investigators may also seek information that could help security agencies locate the two suspects who escaped during the operation.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by security personnel during operations against criminal groups, particularly when suspects attempt to flee from identified hideouts.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the operation reflects the continued efforts of security agencies to disrupt criminal networks and prevent suspected kidnappers from establishing safe locations within communities across Plateau State.
Plateau State has continued to face security concerns in some areas, with criminal activities posing risks to residents and communities.
Operations such as the latest raid are therefore aimed at identifying suspected criminals, disrupting their activities and gathering intelligence that could support wider security operations.
The arrest of the three suspects also provides security personnel with an opportunity to investigate whether the individuals are operating independently or as part of a larger network.
For residents of Mista-Ali and surrounding communities, the operation could also help strengthen confidence in ongoing security efforts, particularly as authorities continue to work towards preventing criminal groups from using isolated locations as bases for their activities.
The military has yet to disclose further details about the identities of the two suspects who escaped or whether additional arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
For now, Umar Aliyu, Abdulrahman Adam and Bello Isa remain in custody as investigations continue.
Security authorities are expected to use information obtained during the ongoing investigation to establish the full extent of the suspects’ activities and determine whether they have links to other kidnapping operations in Plateau State.
The operation forms part of the broader efforts by security forces to dismantle criminal networks, deny them safe havens and improve security across communities considered vulnerable to kidnapping and other forms of criminal activity.
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