The Nigerian military says troops have disrupted an illegal arms trafficking network in Plateau State and arrested several suspects linked to the illicit trade, kidnapping and other violent crimes across parts of the North-Central region.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during his weekly briefing on the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He said troops under Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace had sustained operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and preventing the circulation of illegal weapons.
According to Onoja, troops conducted covert operations in Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, leading to the arrest of a suspected arms fabricator at Heipang in Barkin Ladi. Three other suspects were also apprehended over their alleged involvement in arms trafficking.
Items recovered during the operations included a locally fabricated revolver rifle, a fabricated pistol, a fabricated AK-47 barrel, an AK-47 magazine and 42 rounds of 7.62mm by 54mm rimmed ammunition.
The military also reported the arrest of Yusuf Suleiman at Barkin Ladi Main Market on October 10, 2026. He was allegedly linked to an attack on Kassa community on September 24, as well as kidnapping, armed robbery and the killing of a resident identified as Mr Gyang on April 16.
In a separate operation on October 14, troops raided a suspected kidnappers’ hideout at Ruga in Methodist Kisahyip, Agingin, Bassa Local Government Area, arresting two suspects.
Meanwhile, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West arrested Yusuf Iliya Sani at Maraban Kakini in connection with alleged kidnapping, extortion, sexual assault and killings in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Onoja said troops had earlier forced suspected terrorists to abandon a kidnapped victim near Galadimawa after engaging them. In another response to an attack on a resident travelling from Dogon Dawa to Takama Village, troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended security personnel for their efforts and urged them to sustain operational momentum, remain vigilant and strengthen intelligence sharing among security agencies.
Deborah Adeyefa
