Details have emerged on how Colonel Ajanaku (rtd) was was kidnapped in the early hours of Monday from his residence opposite Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
Sources confirmed that troops of Sectors 1 and 3 of Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP) responded to the reports of the kidnapping and trailed the criminals along their withdrawal route through the Wild Life Park.
Meanwhile, the bandits contacted Colonel Ajanaku’s wife, demanding a ransom of N200 million. But through sustained covert operations, the troops rescued the retired senior officer later in the evening at the outskirts of Rafiki Axis in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
According to the source: “At about 0045 hours on January 5, 2026, unidentified gunmen kidnapped Col Ajanaku (Rtd) from his residence located opposite Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
“Troops of Sects 1 and 3 OPEP responded and trailed the criminals along their withdrawal route through the Wild Life Park. Troops in conjunction with DIA Tracking Team and vigilantes sustained search and rescue efforts along the caves and rocky high grounds suspected to be criminal hideouts.
“Later in the day, at about 051400A Jan 26, kidnappers established contact with the wife of the abducted retired senior officer and demanded for a ransom of Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000.00). The kidnappers, having noticed the overwhelming presence of troops in pursuit, directed that the search and rescue operations be suspended, failure of which would lead to the killing of the victim.
“Troops then switched to covert operations leading to the rescue of the abducted retired senior officer at about 051730A Jan 26 at the outskirts of Rafiki Axis in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
“The rescued retired senior officer is currently undergoing medical check up at OPEP Medical Centre pending debriefing for intelligence to aid follow-up operations. Troops are still combing the Forests in pursuit of the kidnappers.”
