Midnight Kidnap, Daring Daylight Rescue: Army Foils N200m Ransom Plot, Frees Retired Colonel In Plateau

Nigerian Army troops have successfully rescued a retired senior military officer, Col. Ajanaku (rtd), who was abducted by gunmen from his residence in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of Monday.
The retired officer was kidnapped at about 12:45 a.m. on January 5 from his home opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road, triggering an immediate military response.

Troops drawn from relevant sectors swiftly mobilised and trailed the kidnappers along their escape route through the Wildlife Park, intensifying search-and-rescue operations around caves and rocky high grounds suspected to serve as criminal hideouts.
During the operation, the abductors reportedly contacted the victim’s wife, demanding a staggering ransom of N200 million and threatening to kill the retired colonel if rescue efforts were not halted.

Security forces, however, switched to covert tactics, a move that paid off as Col. Ajanaku was safely rescued at about 5:30 p.m. the same day at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA.
The rescued officer is currently undergoing medical evaluation at a military medical facility and is expected to be debriefed to provide critical intelligence to aid follow-up operations.
Meanwhile, troops have continued aggressive combing of surrounding forests in pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers.