Troops Gun Down Seven Criminals, Rescue Kidnapped Girl, Recover Arms in Kaduna Operations
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP) have recorded major operational successes in Kaduna State, neutralising criminal elements, rescuing a kidnapped victim, and recovering arms and ammunition during coordinated operations carried out on January 13 and 14, 2026.
According to the military, troops of Sector 7 under Operation Peace Shield acted on credible intelligence on Tuesday, January 13, following reports of the kidnapping of a young girl in Kajim Village, Kaura Local Government Area. The troops immediately mobilised and pursued the suspects, engaging them in a firefight that led to the neutralisation of three criminals identified as Yusuf Musa, Auwal Adamu and Kamal Abdul. The victim was successfully rescued, debriefed and reunited with her family.
In a related operation on Wednesday, January 14, troops raided a suspected armed robbery hideout on the outskirts of Kaura town, also in Kaura Local Government Area. During the encounter, four armed criminals were neutralised. They were later identified as Abubakar Ibrahim (35), Ibrahim Isa (37), Suleiman Auwal (25) and Suleiman Tahiru.
Items recovered from the suspects included a locally fabricated rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles. Preliminary investigations revealed that the group belonged to a criminal syndicate responsible for kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes along the Ganawuri–Manchok corridor.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against criminal networks and ensuring the safety and security of residents across the joint operations area.
Comments