Troops Kill Terrorists, Recover Rifles in Plateau Operations
Troops of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE have intensified offensive operations against terrorist elements in Plateau State, neutralising several suspects, recovering locally fabricated rifles, and arresting a suspected gun runner in a series of coordinated operations across Jos South, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Media Information Officer of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 6, acting on intelligence reports of terrorist activities, launched a clearance operation at the Gero Highground in Jos South Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday, June 26, 2026.
The troops reportedly came under fire from suspected terrorists who were operating from a hideout and allegedly using livestock as cover. Reinforcements were immediately deployed, forcing the attackers to withdraw from the area.
The troops subsequently pursued the fleeing suspects, neutralising several of them while others escaped. The military said follow-up operations, including aggressive combing of the area, were ongoing to track down the fleeing terrorists and dismantle their hideouts.
In a related development later that day, at about 10:00 a.m., troops of Sector 5 stationed at Maijanki intercepted a motorcycle conveying two passengers travelling from Kuba District in Bokkos Local Government Area towards Maijanki in Barkin Ladi.
According to the military, the two passengers abandoned a bag and fled into nearby bushes on sighting troops at a checkpoint. The motorcycle rider was arrested, while a search of the abandoned bag led to the recovery of three locally fabricated rifles.
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Preliminary interrogation indicated that the rider claimed he had picked up the fleeing passengers in Kuba and was unaware of their intended destination. The suspect, the recovered weapons and the motorcycle remain in military custody for further investigation.
The statement further revealed that on Tuesday, June 30, troops acting on intelligence regarding the movement of suspected terrorists around the Rafin Bauna/Gero mountains in Jos South Local Government Area successfully ambushed the group, killing five suspected terrorists.
The remaining members of the group reportedly fled the scene, abandoning their mission.
According to the military, preliminary battlefield assessment, corroborated by members of the local community, indicated that some of those killed had been on the military’s wanted list for allegedly masterminding several attacks in Jos South and Bassa local government areas.
In another incident, troops providing security at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, in Jos South Local Government Area, repelled an attack by suspected terrorists in the early hours of Thursday, July 2.
The military said the attackers breached the facility’s perimeter through a low section of the fence under the cover of darkness before opening fire on troops on sentry duty at about 12:10 a.m.
The troops returned fire, neutralising one of the attackers while others escaped. The body of the deceased suspect has been handed over to the police, while recovered arms and ammunition are in military custody.
The military added that troops have continued to dominate the area through aggressive patrols to prevent further attacks.
Operation ENDURING PEACE reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups operating within its Joint Operations Area, assuring residents of renewed efforts to protect lives and property and restore lasting peace across Plateau State.The story is structured in standard news style with a strong headline, lead, chronological flow, attribution, and balanced journalistic language while accurately reflecting the information contained in the military statement.
By PRNigeria
