Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In the early hours of January 1, 2026, Nigerian Army troops serving under the 3 Division and the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP) successfully thwarted a planned bandit attack in Plateau State, bolstering ongoing efforts to deny criminal gangs freedom of action in the region. The intelligence‑led operation, conducted under the broader framework of Operation Peace Shield, involved an ambush along the Dutsen Zaki–Odare Forest axis in Wase Local Government Area, where bandits were reportedly mobilising to launch assaults on surrounding communities.
According to military sources, troops engaged the armed group in a fierce firefight, neutralising five bandits while others fled into the dense forest with possible gunshot wounds. Security personnel recovered two AK‑47 rifle magazines loaded with 11 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two machetes and a knife at the scene, signalling a tangible disruption of the criminals’ planned activities.
The operation reflects a string of recent successes by Nigerian forces in Plateau State, where continued offensives have targeted bandits, kidnappers and other non‑state armed groups in an effort to restore stability to parts of the North‑Central geopolitical zone that have long endured insecurity. In the weeks leading up to the latest action, troops had reported neutralising suspected kidnappers, arresting alleged informants and recovering weapons during coordinated responses to violent incidents in the state’s local government areas.
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of JTF Operation Enduring Peace, Major General EF Oyinlola, has reassured law‑abiding residents of Plateau and neighbouring communities of the military’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property. According to military communiqués, troops remain engaged in exploiting the ambush area to prevent regrouping by the fleeing bandits and to forestall further threats to peace. The commander also issued a stern warning to criminal elements operating within the Joint Operations Area (JOA), emphasising that persistent illegal activities will be met with decisive force.
Plateau State, like many parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has faced periodic security challenges attributed to armed banditry, communal tensions and organised criminal networks. In the run‑up to the new year, separate reports indicated a deadly terror attack in Jos South Local Government Area on New Year’s Eve, where gunmen reportedly killed at least seven residents in a rural community, underscoring the volatile security environment that troops are striving to stabilise.
Operation Peace Shield and the wider JTF OPEP campaign form part of a coordinated multi‑agency strategy to confront the sprawling threat posed by bandits and kidnappers across Nigeria’s central states. These operations leverage actionable intelligence to anticipate and pre‑empt attacks, disrupting criminal logistics and command structures. The ambush in Wase marks the latest in a series of such engagements, following earlier operations in which troops recovered weapons and neutralised bandits in remote forested areas.
Security analysts note that the deployment of intelligence‑led ambushes, raids and targeted offensives represents an evolution in the army’s tactical approach, moving beyond static checkpoints toward proactive confrontation of organised criminal elements. In addition to kinetic engagements, Nigerian forces have sought to dismantle the operational networks of kidnappers, intercept their supply chains and arrest collaborators, as seen in mid‑December operations that led to the death of a suspected kidnapper and the arrest of alleged informants in Jos North Local Government Area.
The military’s enhanced posture in Plateau aligns with broader national security priorities articulated by defence leadership, which emphasise improved planning, intelligence sharing and joint operations as key to degrading the operational capacities of criminals and insurgent groups across multiple theatres. Senior defence officials have previously highlighted gains made in recent months, noting that sustained pressure, inter‑agency cooperation and strategic patrols are critical to stemming violence and restoring public confidence in state protection mechanisms.
For communities in Plateau and adjoining areas, the intensified operations come amid a renewed call from residents and local authorities for lasting peace and normalcy after years of episodic violence. Farmers, traders and commuters, who often bear the brunt of insecurity through disrupted livelihoods and displacement, have welcomed military successes but continue to call for comprehensive measures that combine security with development and community engagement.
As troops continue to pursue the fleeing suspects from the January 1 ambush and sustain pressure on criminal networks, authorities urge the public to support counter‑insurgency efforts by providing credible information and cooperating with security agencies. The Nigerian Army’s operational emphasis remains on safeguarding lives and property while denying bandits the ability to threaten civilian populations, especially in volatile rural corridors.
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