Troops of Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have arrested three suspected kidnappers during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Mista-Ali, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The operation was conducted at about 5:30 p.m. on August 14, 2026, following intelligence reports on the activities of suspected kidnappers operating in the area.
The troops reportedly raided the identified hideout and arrested three suspects, identified as Umar Aliyu, 25; Abdulrahman Adam, 25; and Bello Isa, 21.
Two other suspects allegedly escaped during the operation.
One of the fleeing suspects reportedly attacked a soldier, identified as CPL Muhammad Adam, with a knife while attempting to escape.
The injured soldier was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Mista-Ali, where he was admitted for medical treatment.
Following the arrests, troops conducted searches of houses belonging to the suspects. However, no incriminating items were reportedly recovered.
The three suspects remain in military custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations into their activities and possible links to kidnapping operations in the area.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the operation highlights the continued efforts by security forces to identify and dismantle criminal networks and prevent suspected kidnappers from establishing hideouts within communities across Plateau State.
