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Troops Rescue Abducted Colonel in Plateau Despite N200 Million Ransom Demand

Published by admin on January 6th, 2026.

Troops Rescue Abducted Colonel in Plateau Despite N200 Million Ransom Demand

Nigerian Army personnel have successfully rescued **Colonel Ajanaku (rtd.)**, who was abducted by armed men from his home in **Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State**.

The retired officer was reportedly kidnapped at around **12:45 a.m. on January 5, 2026**, when gunmen forced their way into his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along **Rukuba Road**.

Sources told SaharaReporters that military units from relevant sectors were immediately deployed to track the kidnappers. The troops followed the suspects through the **Wildlife Park**, intensifying search operations around **caves and rocky terrains** believed to be criminal hideouts.

A security expert, **Zagazola Makama**, revealed that the abductors had contacted Colonel Ajanaku’s wife, demanding a **N200 million ransom** and threatening to kill the officer if rescue efforts continued.

Undeterred, security forces switched to **covert operations**, which ultimately led to the colonel’s safe recovery around **5:30 p.m.** the same day, at the outskirts of the **Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA**.

Colonel Ajanaku is currently undergoing **medical evaluations** at a military facility and is expected to be debriefed to provide information that could assist ongoing operations against the kidnappers.

Troops remain active in the area, combing forests and other suspected hideouts as the search for the fleeing criminals continues.