Armed Men Abduct Resident in Early Morning Attack on Bassa Community.

Gunmen struck a quiet community in Bassa early this morning and took one man away.

The attack happened around 2:10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. It was still dark. Most people in Rangarassang Rantiya were asleep.

Two men were trying to enter their house when the armed men came out from the dark. They attacked them at the door. One of the men, Mr. Victor Yakong, was grabbed. The other man, Mr. Nensemk Yokshak, managed to escape.

Yokshak ran and raised alarm. He shouted. Neighbours woke up. People started calling security.

Troops from Operation Enduring Peace moved fast. Soldiers from Sector 3 reached the area not long after the alarm. Officers from Keystone Division joined them. They went to the house, checked the scene, and confirmed what happened. The gunmen had already dragged Yakong away into the darkness.

The search started immediately.

Soldiers are now combing the bushes around Bassa. They are tracking footprints. They are checking known hideouts. They are moving through the rugged terrain that surrounds the community. The aim is simple: find Yakong alive before the kidnappers settle down and start asking for ransom.

People in Rangarassang Rantiya are shaken. Since morning, many have stayed indoors. Some say they no longer feel safe to step out at night. Community leaders are asking government to send more security to the area. Local vigilantes are also helping. They know the bushes. They are giving soldiers direction.

Bassa is not new to this kind of trouble. The local government has seen farmer-herder clashes, attacks, and kidnappings for years. The terrain makes it hard. Thick bushes. Rocky hills. Plenty of places to hide. Criminals use that to their advantage.

This latest abduction did not happen in isolation. Troops in Bassa have been busy in the last few days.

On Saturday, October 31, soldiers intercepted 140 cattle that were destroying crops in Jebbu Miango. A farmer had called for help. When the herders saw the troops coming, they abandoned the cattle and ran into the bush. The soldiers later contacted Fulani leaders to identify the owners.

A day before the abduction, on Tuesday, November 3, troops stopped what could have been a bloody clash in Rewienku Village. Suspected armed Fulani militia fired at soldiers from rocky positions around Katome. The soldiers returned fire. The attackers fled towards Kissado. Two injured civilians were taken to Enos Hospital in Miango.

On Sunday, November 1, soldiers also intervened in a land dispute at Angwan Kare. Two men were fighting in the Mista Ali area. Sector 1 troops moved in, calmed the situation, and took both men to Keystone Division.

And on Monday, November 2, gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in Riyom Local Government Area. One soldier was killed near Sopp community. The attackers took his rifle and fled. Troops are still hunting them.

All these incidents show the pressure on Operation Enduring Peace. The task force was set up by Defence Headquarters to tackle banditry and communal violence in Plateau and other parts of the Middle Belt. Its men are spread across many communities, responding to distress calls almost daily.

For farmers in Bassa, the fear is real. When kidnappings happen, people leave their farms. Food production drops. Prices go up in the market. A successful rescue will do more than bring one man home. It will give the community confidence to go back to work.

For now, the family of Mr. Yakong is waiting. They want news. They want him back alive.

Security sources said patrols will continue through the night. They also asked residents to share any information. If anyone sees strange movement in the bush, or hears anything about the kidnappers, they should report it quickly.

We will follow this story as the rescue operation continues.

For background on security operations in Plateau, see the https://dhq.gov.ng/ updates.

Also Read Over 30 Suspected Bandits Found Dead After Zamfara Attack

By Jonadab Oluikpe
Publish by Donjoe Media