Nigerian Army troops have rescued Reverend Ephraim Yakubu, a clergyman abducted in the Miango area of Bassa Local Government, Plateau State. The rescue followed a firefight between soldiers and the armed group responsible for the kidnapping.
Reverend Yakubu was taken on December 3 in front of his home at Agingi Village along Rukuba Road. According to military sources who briefed security analyst Zagazola Makama, the abductors were suspected members of a kidnap cell operating in the area.
On the morning of December 4, at about 7:40 a.m., troops conducting patrols on elevated terrain around Miango engaged the kidnappers in a brief exchange of gunfire. The confrontation forced the assailants to abandon their victim and escape into surrounding areas.
The cleric was later discovered tied and concealed beneath a rock formation. He had sustained injuries during his captivity and was promptly taken to the 3 Division Military Specialist Hospital for medical treatment.
At the scene of the rescue, soldiers recovered a locally fabricated rifle and a magazine containing eight rounds of 9mm ammunition. Military authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the attack.
The Plateau corridor continues to experience incidents of abductions, communal violence, and armed incursions despite ongoing security operations aimed at stabilising the region.
