Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria — Troops from the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, operating under Joint Task Force (Operation Enduring Peace), have made a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb illicit arms proliferation in Plateau State, arresting a suspected gunrunner and recovering a cache of weapons and ammunition during coordinated intelligence-led operations. The development comes amid heightened security efforts designed to ensure a peaceful yuletide season across the region.
According to military sources, the operations were conducted on Thursday, December 18, 2025, and involved multiple coordinated actions in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas. Acting on credible intelligence, troops and tactical teams from the Department of State Services (DSS) established a snap checkpoint at Mairana Community in Mangu LGA, where they intercepted an individual believed to be involved in the illegal movement of ammunition.
During the checkpoint operation, soldiers recovered two boxes containing a total of 1,400 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition from the suspect, who was apprehended on the spot and taken into custody for interrogation and further investigation by military intelligence. The recovered ammunition has been secured as evidence, and efforts are ongoing to identify and dismantle broader criminal networks linked to arms supply in the area.
In a related raid, troops, supported by DSS operatives, also conducted a detailed search of a suspected criminal hideout in Gwender Village, Bokkos LGA. Although the occupants fled prior to the arrival of security forces, the search yielded a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle with a magazine, a fabricated pistol and several rounds of ammunition of various calibres. These items were seized and taken into custody as part of follow-up procedures.
The military’s renewed focus on intelligence-driven operations against gunrunners and unlawful arms suppliers reflects wider strategies to stem the flow of weapons that fuel violent crime, banditry and inter-communal clashes not only in Plateau State but across the North-Central region. By tightening checkpoints and conducting targeted raids on suspect locations, security agencies aim to curb the movement and stockpiling of illegal firearms and ammunition ahead of the festive season, when travel and security risks typically rise.
Troops involved in the operation have urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, highlighting that community cooperation remains instrumental in identifying criminal hideouts and disrupting illegal arms supply chains. Meanwhile, follow-up operations are underway to track other suspects believed to be part of the arms network responsible for distributing lethal weapons across Plateau and neighbouring states.
This latest military action builds on a pattern of recent operations in the region that have seen troops raid hideouts, seize weapons and arrest suspects linked to gunrunning and armed violence. Such actions are part of a sustained commitment by the Nigerian Army and partnering security agencies to restore public safety, dismantle criminal networks and reduce the proliferation of illicit arms that threaten civilian lives and property.
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