Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops under Operation ENDURING PEACE have confirmed the killing of at least 10 suspected terrorists during a coordinated clearance operation in Plateau State’s Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas, in what security officials describe as a significant disruption of armed groups operating across the region.
The operation, carried out on Thursday in Daba and Seri villages, also led to the rescue of several kidnapped victims and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, fuel supplies, and personal items believed to belong to the suspects. The intervention was conducted jointly with local vigilante groups as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the area’s rural and forested corridors.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Oteh, the troops engaged a large group of armed men moving on motorcycles along a known transit route between Dutsen Zaki and the Odare Forest at about 8:30 a.m. on April 9, 2026. The troops reportedly established strategic blocking positions before opening fire in what the military described as a swift and coordinated engagement that overwhelmed the attackers.
The statement indicated that despite initial resistance from the armed group, the troops’ superior firepower led to the neutralisation of 10 individuals, while others fled into surrounding forested areas with varying degrees of injury. Security forces said the engagement formed part of a broader offensive known as Operation WUTAN DAJI, aimed at dismantling terrorist mobility corridors and logistics routes across Plateau State and neighbouring regions.
Shortly after the initial encounter, troops reportedly responded to reports of an attack on commuters along the Razat and Kafi Abu axis, prompting additional pursuit operations into nearby settlements and rugged terrain. Subsequent cordon-and-search activities were carried out across Suma Suga, Takwok, and adjoining mountainous areas, where security personnel recovered weapons and logistical materials abandoned by fleeing suspects.
Items recovered during the operation included three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two motorcycles, and five 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit believed to have been intended for operational logistics. Security personnel also recovered a national identity card and a photograph linked to suspected members of the armed group, which officials say may assist ongoing investigations.
Captain Oteh described the development as a major setback for the armed group’s operational capability, stating that the clearance exercise significantly degraded their ability to carry out coordinated attacks in the region. He added that troops remain on high alert and are actively pursuing fleeing suspects and possible collaborators, with continued operations expected across identified flashpoints.
Residents of affected communities in Wase and Kanam expressed relief over the military intervention, describing it as a welcome development after years of recurring attacks. Some community members said armed groups had previously used surrounding forests as hideouts to launch ambushes on travellers, farmers, and rural settlements, often resulting in killings, kidnappings, and displacement.
Local accounts indicate that the two local government areas have experienced prolonged insecurity linked to armed groups operating along inter-state forest routes. These attacks have reportedly included cattle rustling, road ambushes, and destruction of farmlands, contributing to significant economic disruption and population displacement in rural communities.
One resident, Jamilu Suleiman from Wase, said the operation restored a sense of safety among inhabitants who had long lived in fear of sudden attacks. He noted that communities were beginning to cautiously resume normal activities following the military action. Another resident, Suleiman Garba, said the sustained military presence had provided renewed hope that insecurity in the area could be brought under control.
Despite the latest success, security challenges persist across parts of Plateau State, where rural violence has intensified in recent months. In Bokkos Local Government Area, earlier incidents included the killing of several residents during night attacks on farming communities, while other parts of the state have also witnessed sporadic assaults linked to armed groups operating across forested border corridors.
Military authorities say these routes are frequently used for the movement of weapons, fuel, and supplies between dispersed cells, complicating efforts to fully dismantle the networks. As a result, Operation ENDURING PEACE has intensified clearance operations, patrols, and intelligence-driven raids across Plateau and adjoining states, including Bauchi and Taraba, where similar security threats have been reported.
Security analysts note that the terrain of Plateau State, characterised by remote villages, forested hills, and limited road access, continues to present operational challenges for counterinsurgency efforts. However, they also observe that sustained joint operations involving the military, police, and local vigilante groups have improved response times and disrupted several attempted attacks in recent months.
Authorities have urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies to support ongoing operations, while advising caution as clearance activities expand across affected regions. The military has reiterated its commitment to restoring stability, stating that operations will continue until identified threats are fully neutralised and normalcy is restored to rural communities.
For now, the latest offensive is being viewed by residents and officials alike as a tactical gain in a broader and ongoing effort to curb armed violence across Plateau State, even as security forces prepare for further engagements in difficult and often inaccessible terrain where armed groups are believed to still be active.
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