Plateau State Security Forces Apprehend Two Individuals with AK-47 Rifle

Troops operating under the banner of Operation Enduring Peace, a joint security task force established to maintain order in Plateau State, have taken into custody two individuals found with an AK-47 assault rifle and accompanying ammunition. The arrests were made during enhanced stop-and-search patrols conducted in areas identified as potential hotspots within Jos North and Jos South local government areas.

These security actions come in the wake of recent violent incidents in Anguwan Rukuba and other locations across the state, which are reported to have resulted in the deaths of over 30 people. The heightened security measures are intended to de-escalate growing tensions within the Jos metropolis.

Captain Polycarp Oteh, the spokesperson for the operation, stated that the intensified patrols initiated on Friday are a strategic effort to prevent further aggravation of the conflict in Jos North. He emphasized that these actions are part of the broader mission to restore peace and guarantee the safety of residents and their property throughout the state.

The operation quickly yielded results, with troops successfully intercepting and detaining two suspects. The recovered items include one locally manufactured AK-47 rifle, four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a pump- action firearm, and a machete.

These seizures and arrests occurred during focused operations across critical flashpoints and major routes, including Dadinkowa, Old Airport Junction, Tudun Wada, and the State Low-Cost Housing Estate, covering both Jos North and Jos South areas, according to the statement.

In a separate incident, Captain Oteh reported that troops responded to an alert concerning sporadic gunfire at a cattle market in Yelwa, Shendam Local Government Area. Upon the troops' arrival, the armed assailants fled into the surrounding bush under pressure. A subsequent search of the area uncovered two local residents who had sustained injuries from gunshot wounds.

The security command has reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a robust security presence across the entirety of Plateau State, assuring the populace that security operations will persist until the threat of violence is completely eliminated.