Plateau Raids: Troops Kill Terror Suspects, Recover Ammunition in Wase, Qua’an Pan

By Musa Garba, Jos

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE, operating under the special mandate of Operation WUTAN DAJI, have intensified security operations in Plateau State, killing suspected terrorists, recovering ammunition and dismantling criminal hideouts in coordinated raids across Wase, Qua’an Pan and Shendam local government areas.

The latest operations were disclosed in a press statement signed by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, on April 6, 2026.

According to the military, one of the major offensives took place on April 4 in Wase Local Government Area, where troops, working alongside local vigilantes, launched clearance operations around Babangida, Adua and Bokayi villages in the Dutsen Zaki forest, an area identified as a corridor for armed groups.

The statement said the joint team came under attack while advancing along the Babangida–Adua road, triggering a gun battle with suspected terrorists.

“The superior firepower of the troops resulted in the immediate neutralisation of two suspects, while several others retreated into the dense forest with various degrees of gunshot wounds,” the statement said.

After the encounter, troops reportedly combed the area and recovered one locally fabricated firearm, a belt containing 105 rounds of 7.62mm PKT ammunition, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a cutlass.

In a separate operation on Sunday, April 5, troops stationed in Namu District of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area acted on intelligence about the movement of armed men suspected to be involved in illegal arms trafficking and kidnapping activities.

The military said the troops moved swiftly and intercepted four suspected terrorists at about 7:45 a.m., adding that a search on the suspects led to the recovery of 100 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

According to the statement, troops later moved to locate and destroy the suspects’ hideout but came under heavy gunfire from armed men believed to be their associates.

The military said the situation became chaotic during the exchange, and three of the four arrested suspects, who allegedly attempted to escape, were killed in the crossfire.

The statement claimed they were hit by gunfire from their fleeing accomplices.

In another operation carried out the same day, troops in Shendam Local Government Area, in collaboration with residents, arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gidan Mangoro village around 9:35 a.m.

The suspect is believed to be connected to a kidnapping incident reported in the community on April 3, according to the military.

Security officials said the suspect is currently in custody and will face further investigation and possible prosecution.

The military described the operations as part of a broader push to weaken armed groups and restore stability in Plateau communities affected by violent attacks, kidnapping and illegal arms movement.

It also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies with credible intelligence to help sustain the gains recorded in the ongoing operations.

Troops Nab Terror Suspects, Arrest Armed Civilians, Detain Foreign National in Fresh Northeast Security Sweep

By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

Troops from the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have achieved several security successes in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states by arresting suspected members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), catching armed civilians connected to a deadly shooting, and detaining a suspected foreign national under unclear circumstances.

The operations, carried out by troops of Sectors 2 and 4 over the weekend, underscore renewed military pressure on insurgents and criminal elements operating within the North-East theatre.

In one of the major operations, troops arrested six suspected terrorists and logistics suppliers in the Geidam and Mubi North areas of Yobe and Adamawa states while also neutralising two insurgents along the Ngoshe–Pulka axis of the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Confirming the development in Maiduguri, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said the troops sustained offensive operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements across the theatre between March 31 and April 4, 2026.

According to him, the coordinated operations led to the disruption of insurgent logistics networks and the arrest of several suspects believed to be aiding terrorist movements and supplies.

Military sources said the troops, acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with local security volunteers, intercepted the suspects in separate operations, while follow-up actions are ongoing to uncover wider terrorist support networks.

In a related development, OPHK also arrested five suspects in connection with the alleged illegal possession and discharge of firearms in the Ngomari Old Airport area of Maiduguri, an incident that reportedly led to the death of an innocent resident from stray bullets.

The military said the suspects were linked to the unlawful use of firearms during a social event in the community, prompting swift intervention by security personnel after the incident triggered outrage among residents.

Lt Col. Uba said the Theatre Command had taken decisive steps following the incident, stressing that investigations had already commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic shooting.

He noted that the command would not tolerate reckless use of firearms or any action capable of endangering civilian lives, adding that those found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

Security officials said the suspects are currently being interrogated, while efforts are being intensified to trace the source of the weapons allegedly used during the event.

In another security development, troops of the 233 Tank Battalion operating along the Damaturu–Potiskum Motorway in Yobe State arrested a suspected foreign national identified as Abdulrazak Muhammad, 31, during a routine stop-and-search operation.

A military source said the suspect was intercepted in the early hours of April 3 at a checkpoint and found in possession of three mobile phones without SIM cards, a notebook and a small amount of foreign currency.

According to the source, the suspect, who allegedly claimed to be a Ghanaian from Accra, could not provide any valid means of identification at the time of arrest.

The source added that during preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly gave conflicting accounts about his identity, nationality, and travel history, claiming ties to Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria at different times.

He was also said to have appeared confused when asked to explain his destination and purpose of travel, raising further suspicion among security personnel.

Military authorities said the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue to determine his true identity, his movement patterns, and whether his presence may have wider security implications.

The latest arrests and operations come amid intensified efforts by Operation Hadin Kai to tighten security across the North-East and sustain pressure on insurgent groups, criminal collaborators and other suspicious actors threatening peace in the region.

Security analysts say the developments reflect a growing emphasis not only on direct combat operations but also on intelligence-led arrests, community surveillance and pre-emptive action aimed at disrupting terror logistics and preventing avoidable civilian casualties.

OPHK Arrests Five Over Wedding Gunfire That Killed Young Girl in Maiduguri

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested five suspects over the alleged illegal possession and reckless discharge of firearms in the Ngomari Old Airport area of Maiduguri, Borno State, in an incident that claimed the life of a young girl.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, who said the military had launched a full investigation into the tragic shooting linked to stray bullets in the community.

According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 2:00 p.m. on April 4, 2026, during a wedding ceremony held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers’ Quarters along Airport Road in Maiduguri. The suspects were alleged to have engaged in sporadic gunfire into the air during the social event, an action that reportedly led to the death of an innocent girl.

Uba said the suspects were later identified by vigilantes as members of an escort team attached to the chairman of a local government area in the state.

“The Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has taken decisive action following the incident involving the unauthorised discharge of firearms in Borno State, which tragically resulted in the loss of an innocent girl-child,” he stated.

He added that troops moved swiftly after the incident and arrested the five suspects allegedly connected to the shooting. They were identified as Muhammad Husaini, 28; Abba Jiddu, 25; Abba Kolo Mohammed, 20; Ali Adam, 20; and Nura Mohammed, 18.

Military authorities described the action of the suspects as unlawful, reckless and contrary to all rules guiding the handling and use of firearms, especially in civilian areas.

The statement noted that the suspects are currently in custody and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with the law.

Reacting to the incident, the Theatre Commander of OPHK, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, strongly condemned the act, describing it as unprofessional, unauthorised and a serious breach of regulations governing firearms use.

He stressed that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and other support personnel are not allowed to engage in indiscriminate firing under any circumstance, particularly in populated civilian communities.

Abubakar also assured residents that the command had commenced a detailed investigation in collaboration with relevant state authorities, including the Office of the Senior Adviser on Security to the Borno State Government, to establish the full facts surrounding the incident and ensure justice is served.

He said although calm has returned to the area, troops have maintained heightened vigilance to preserve peace and order.

The military command also extended condolences to the bereaved family, assuring the public of its commitment to accountability, justice and the protection of lives and property across the theatre of operation.