Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have rescued eight kidnapped victims during a clearance operation in Pandam Forest, located in Qua'an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the operation was carried out at about 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday following credible intelligence on the presence of kidnappers in the forest.

The military said troops of Sector 9, deployed in Namu, launched a deliberate offensive against the suspected kidnappers, leading to a gun battle as the criminals attempted to flee while firing sporadically.

During the exchange of fire, three of the kidnapped victims reportedly escaped from their captors.

Troops subsequently conducted an extensive search and exploitation of the forest, resulting in the rescue of five additional victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to eight.

The rescued victims were said to be in safe condition, while efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families.

The operation also received commendation from members of the local community, who reportedly pledged to continue providing intelligence to security agencies to aid the arrest of criminal elements.

The military added that troops are pursuing the fleeing kidnappers with the aim of apprehending or neutralising them, while reiterating its commitment to restoring peace and security across the Joint Operations Area.

Operation ENDURING PEACE also appealed to residents to sustain their cooperation with security forces by providing timely and credible information to help disrupt criminal activities.