Nigerian troops have killed five suspected militants and arrested a kidnapping suspect in a series of operations in Plateau State, even as a separate attack in another part of the state left three civilians dead and one injured.
The military task force, Operation Enduring Peace, said the offensive—carried out under the wider mandate of Operation Wutan Daji—targeted known insurgent routes in Wase local government area on 4 April.
According to the task force spokesperson, Chinonso Oteh, troops engaged armed groups along the Babangida–Adua road, killing two suspects in an initial firefight, while three others attempting to flee were also killed during follow-up engagements.
The operations, conducted with the support of local vigilantes, extended across villages including Babangida, Adua, and Bokayi within the Dutsen Zaki forest—an area long associated with armed banditry and insurgent activity.
Weapons recovered from the scene included a locally made firearm, a belt of 105 rounds of 7.62mm PKT ammunition, additional rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a cutlass, the military said.
In a separate operation in Qua’an Pan local government area, troops acting on intelligence intercepted four suspected militants in Namu district. Security officials said the suspects were found with 100 rounds of ammunition before leading troops to a hideout, where they came under renewed attack.
Amid the exchange of fire, three of the detainees were killed during an attempted escape, while others fled into surrounding forest areas, according to the military account.
Elsewhere in Shendam, troops working with local residents arrested a suspected kidnapper linked to a recent abduction in Gidan Mangoro village. The suspect is in custody pending further investigation.
Despite the reported gains, violence persisted in the state. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that three people were killed in an early morning attack on Pwomol village in Barkin Ladi local government area.
The victims — identified as Marvin Dung Choji, 23; Bitrus Pam Choji, 24; and Daniel M. Dung, 59 — were shot dead when gunmen stormed the community. A fourth resident, Stephen Pam Davou, 48, was seriously injured and is receiving treatment.
Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred said a joint response team comprising police, military and other security agencies engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat into nearby mountainous terrain.
“One suspect, identified as Suleiman, was arrested during follow-up clearance operations,” Alfred said, adding that the individual was found with visible bloodstains and remains in custody.
The incidents highlight the continuing volatility in Plateau, where periodic military gains against armed groups have struggled to translate into sustained security, leaving rural communities vulnerable to recurring attacks.
