RismadarVoice Reporters, July 2, 2026
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have intensified offensive operations against terrorist elements in Plateau State, neutralising several suspects, recovering locally fabricated rifles and arresting a suspected gunrunner in a series of coordinated operations across Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas.
In a statement on Thursday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said the operations were conducted based on credible intelligence aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and restoring security in the state.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 6, on June 26, carried out a clearance operation at Gero Highground in Jos South Local Government Area following reports of terrorist activities in the area.
The troops reportedly came under heavy gunfire from suspected terrorists who allegedly used livestock as cover during the attack. Reinforcements were deployed, forcing the assailants to retreat. Troops subsequently pursued the fleeing suspects, neutralising some of them while others escaped into nearby bushes. A follow-up combing operation was launched to track down the fleeing suspects and destroy their hideouts.
In a related operation the same day, troops at a checkpoint in Maijanki intercepted a motorcycle conveying two passengers from Kuba District in Bokkos Local Government Area.
The statement said the two passengers abandoned a bag and fled into the bush on sighting the troops. Security operatives recovered the bag containing three locally fabricated rifles and arrested the motorcycle rider for questioning.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the rider claimed he picked up the fleeing passengers from Kuba and was unaware of their destination. The suspect, recovered weapons and the motorcycle are in military custody for further investigation.
The military also disclosed that on June 30, troops acting on intelligence ambushed suspected terrorists gathered in the Rafin Bauna/Gero mountain area of Jos South, killing five of them and forcing others to flee.
According to the military, preliminary battle damage assessment and information from community members revealed that some of those killed had been on the command’s wanted list for allegedly masterminding several attacks in Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas.
In another incident on July 2, suspected terrorists reportedly attempted to infiltrate the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, through a section of the perimeter fence under the cover of darkness.
Troops on guard duty engaged the attackers in a gun battle, killing one of the suspects while others escaped. The body of the deceased suspect has been handed over to the police, while recovered arms and ammunition remain in military custody.
Captain Oteh said troops have sustained aggressive patrols and domination of the affected areas, reaffirming the resolve of Operation ENDURING PEACE to deny terrorist groups freedom of action and ensure the protection of lives and property across the Joint Operations Area.
