In a decisive show of force against rising insecurity, troops of Operation Enduring Peace have killed six suspected terrorists, recovered a cache of locally fabricated rifles, and successfully repelled a midnight assault on the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State.
The Joint Task Force confirmed the operations on Thursday, stating they were part of sustained offensive maneuvers to dismantle criminal networks across the Joint Operations Area.
According to spokesperson Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the heaviest blow came on June 30, when soldiers acting on intelligence ambushed a terrorist gathering near the Rafin Bauna/Gero mountains in Jos South.
The fierce firefight left five of the assailants dead, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. Community corroboration later identified the fallen suspects as high-value targets who had been on the command’s wanted list for orchestrating numerous deadly attacks in Jos South and Bassa LGAs.
The military also confirmed it had thwarted a brazen attack on the NIPSS facility in Kuru, which occurred on Wednesday night at approximately 11 p.m.
Terrorists breached the institute’s perimeter through a low section of the fence under the cover of darkness. However, stationed troops responded with overwhelming firepower, killing one attacker on the spot and sending the rest fleeing into the night. The neutralized suspect’s body has since been handed over to the police for further investigation.
In earlier coordinated actions on June 26, Sector 6 operatives stormed a criminal hideout at Gero Highground after intelligence flagged militant activity. The terrorists attempted to use livestock as human shields during the exchange, but swift reinforcement forced them to abandon their camp. While troops pursued the fleeing gunmen, the operation successfully scattered the cell.
Concurrently, Sector 5 troops intercepted a suspicious motorcycle traveling from Kuba District in Bokkos LGA to Maijanki in Barkin Ladi LGA. Upon spotting the soldiers, the two passengers abandoned a bag and vanished into nearby vegetation. A search of the discarded luggage yielded three locally fabricated rifles. The motorcycle rider was arrested, though he claimed to be an unwitting transporter with no knowledge of his passengers’ intentions.
Recovered weapons and ammunition remain in military custody as follow-up operations continue to clear out remaining criminal camps. Captain Oteh reaffirmed the task force’s unwavering commitment to denying terrorists any freedom of action, assuring Plateau residents of relentless efforts to protect lives, property, and restore lasting peace across the region.
