Troops neutralise suspected terrorist, seize weapons in Plateau

Operation Enduring Peace troops have disarmed a terrorist suspect and seized weapons and other military items in an intelligence-based exercise carried out in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The exercise was carried out by troops of Sector 2 stationed at Zak village on Saturday in order to curb crime and deny terrorists the freedom of movement in the joint operations area.

In a statement on Sunday, the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said the troops intercepted a green-coloured Golf vehicle with registration number DKA-808XM during a stop-and-search operation.

According to the spokesperson, the troops discovered a carefully fabricated and concealed compartment inside the vehicle’s dashboard while conducting a search.

He explained that the driver allegedly refused to open the compartment and fled into a nearby bush, prompting the troops to pursue and apprehend him.

“Upon being apprehended, the driver attempted to disarm one of the soldiers and was swiftly neutralised,” he added.

Items recovered from the vehicle included two AK-47 rifles, magazines, two wooden rifle butts, nine magazine pouches, two camel bags, six jungle hats, a mobile phone and an ATM card.

The Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, commended the troops for what he described as their decisive and aggressive posture during the operation.

Dangana urged the troops to sustain the momentum in ongoing offensive operations against criminal elements across the Joint Operations Area.

He also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and actionable information to assist troops in carrying out their responsibility of protecting lives and property.

The military said the operation forms part of sustained efforts to tackle terrorism and other criminal activities across Plateau State and neighbouring areas under the Operation ENDURING PEACE Joint Operations Area.