Operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, have rescued 25 people kidnapped on December 21, 2025, in the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Samuel Jatau, Secretary to the State Government, made the announcement on Saturday during a press briefing at the Government House in Rayfield, Jos.
Jatau, joined by Commissioners Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong and Mrs. Caroline Panglang Dafur, as well as a DSS official, said, “We are pleased to notify the public that security agencies have retrieved 25 kidnapped children.
“They were travelling for Eid-el-Maulud celebrations when kidnappers, disguised as vigilantes, abducted them in Wase LGA on 21 December 2025.
“Let me clarify that there were actually 28 in the vehicle when they were travelling, but three of them were not kidnapped because they escaped during the incident.”
The SSG mentioned that the victims, comprising six females and 19 males, were rescued after intensive efforts by the state government and security agencies.
He stated that the rescued individuals had received medical checks and are in good health, aside from minor injuries.
Jatau praised the DSS, saying, “We want to thank the DSS for a wonderful job. They’ve been doing remarkable things across the state.”
The rescued victims were handed over to officials from Wase LGA.
Jatau urged the local government to provide psychological support, stating, “Ensure they follow up with psychology; manage them for a couple of weeks before reuniting them with their homes.”
Jatau emphasized, “The government will support them. The local government should watch over them for a few weeks to ensure they’re okay.”
“The Plateau State Government wants to thank security agencies for their efforts, praying for continued support to ensure the state’s security,” the SSG added.
