Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Nigerian navy has stated that troops of the Joint Task Force, North-Central Operation Enduring Peace, have uncovered, tracked and disrupted an unlawful arms-trafficking community in the North-central area, notably in Plateau State. The troops additionally dismantled kidnapping networks in the state.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, made this recognized throughout his weekly replace on the operational actions of troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) throughout the nation.
He additionally revealed that troops of the Joint Task Force, North-West Operation Fansan Yamma, apprehended a suspect recognized as Yusuf Iliya Sani at Maraban Kakini over his alleged involvement in kidnapping, extortion, sexual assault and killings in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
He stated: “Troops of Operation Enduring Peace maintained operations to disrupt unlawful arms trafficking, establish suspected perpetrators of violent crime and dismantle kidnapping networks in Plateau State.
“To this finish, troops performed a covert operation in Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State and arrested a suspected arms fabricator at Heipang, Barkin Ladi LGA. Three different suspects had been additionally arrested over their alleged involvement in unlawful arms trafficking. Troops recovered one regionally fabricated revolver rifle, one fabricated pistol, one fabricated AK-47 barrel, one AK-47 journal and 42 rounds of seven.62mm × 54mm rimmed ammunition.
“On 10 October 2026, troops arrested a suspect, Yusuf Suleiman, at Barkin Ladi Main Market. He was allegedly linked to the assault on Kassa neighborhood on 24 September 2026, in addition to kidnapping, armed theft and the killing of a resident, Mr Gyang, on 16 April 2026.
“Also, on 14 October 2026, troops raided a suspected kidnappers’ hideout at Ruga in Methodist Kisahyip, Agingin, Bassa LGA of Plateau State, and arrested two suspects.”
Recounting the operational actions of troops of Operation Fansan Yamma on 9 October 2026, General Onoja stated troops working across the Galadimawa space sighted three suspected terrorists fleeing with a kidnapped individual.
He additional defined: “Troops engaged the suspects and compelled them to desert the sufferer.
“On 10 October, troops responded to stories {that a} native resident travelling from Dogon Dawa to Takama Village in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State was beneath assault by an unknown armed group. On arrival, the responding troops engaged the assailants and recovered an AK-47 rifle with 15 rounds of seven.62mm ammunition.
“Following continued tracking and monitoring, troops apprehended a suspect identified as Yusuf Iliya Sani at Maraban Kakini on 10 October 2026 over his alleged involvement in kidnapping, extortion, sexual assault and killings in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.”
Onoja stated the operations performed throughout all operational theatres had sustained the AFN’s efforts to make sure a protected and safe atmosphere and restore safety throughout the nation.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, recommended the resilience of all safety personnel, urging them to take care of operational momentum, stay extremely vigilant and deny legal parts any freedom of motion.
The Defence Chief additionally referred to as on all safety companies to strengthen their collaborative intelligence-sharing frameworks to reinforce operations in opposition to legal parts throughout the nation.
He stated nationwide safety was a collective civic accountability, including that via unwavering unity and resolve, the navy would safe a peaceable and affluent future for Nigeria.
