A swift and coordinated military operation in Plateau State on January 5, 2026, successfully rescued a retired senior army officer, Colonel Victor Ajanaku, just hours after his abduction. The incident, which began with a brazen midnight raid, culminated in a tactical rescue that highlights both the persistent threat of kidnapping in the region and the evolving response strategies of security forces.
The Abduction and Immediate Response
At approximately 12:45 a.m., gunmen stormed Colonel Ajanaku’s residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road in Bassa Local Government Area. The targeting of a retired military officer at his home underscores the audacity of criminal groups operating in the area. Troops from Sectors 1 and 3 of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) were immediately activated. Leveraging local knowledge and intelligence, they tracked the kidnappers’ withdrawal route through the challenging terrain of the Wildlife Park axis.
A Multi-Agency, Covert Approach
The operation’s success was not due to a single force but a synergistic collaboration. OPSH troops worked in tandem with a specialized tracking team from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and local vigilantes. This combination brought together formal military tactics, advanced technical intelligence, and invaluable grassroots situational awareness. Their initial search focused on known criminal hideouts—caves and rocky high grounds that offer natural fortification.
The situation escalated around 2:00 p.m. when the kidnappers contacted the colonel’s wife, demanding a N200 million ransom. Crucially, they also issued a direct threat: the continued overt military pursuit would result in the execution of the hostage. This is a common, high-stakes tactic used to force security forces to disengage.
Instead of withdrawing, the joint team executed a critical tactical shift. They moved from overt, aggressive combing operations to a covert, intelligence-driven approach. This likely involved reducing visible troop presence, increasing surveillance, and using human and technical intelligence to pinpoint the hostage’s location without alerting the captors.
The Successful Rescue and Aftermath
The covert strategy proved effective. By 5:30 p.m. the same day—less than 17 hours after the abduction—Colonel Ajanaku was rescued at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA. The speed of the rescue is notable, as the window for successful recovery often narrows rapidly after the first 24-48 hours. The retired officer was taken to the OPSH Medical Centre for essential medical evaluation and psychological first aid.
Perhaps most importantly for future operations, he will undergo a formal debriefing. This process is designed to extract actionable intelligence: details about the kidnappers’ identities, methods, communication patterns, and hideout networks. This intelligence is vital for disrupting the cell responsible and preventing future incidents.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Efforts
While this operation ended successfully, it is part of a larger, ongoing struggle. The military statement confirmed that troops continue "aggressive combing of surrounding forests in pursuit of the fleeing kidnappers." The rescue of a high-profile victim does not equate to the dismantling of the criminal network.
This incident serves as a microcosm of Nigeria’s security challenges in regions like Plateau. It demonstrates the importance of:
- Rapid Response: The immediate deployment of troops likely prevented the hostage from being moved to a more secure location deep within criminal territory.
- Joint Operations: The integration of military, intelligence agency, and local vigilante efforts multiplies effectiveness.
- Tactical Flexibility: The ability to pivot from an overt to a covert operation in response to threats against the hostage’s life was likely the decisive factor.
- Intelligence Exploitation: The post-rescue debrief turns a personal ordeal into a strategic asset for the security forces.
The rescue of Colonel Ajanaku is a tactical victory, but it also starkly reminds the public and the security establishment that the threat of kidnapping for ransom remains a severe and persistent danger, even for those with military backgrounds.
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