Nine people killed in Plateau State, troops arrest 11 suspects

At least nine people have died in different attacks in Plateau State. Troops from Operation Enduring Peace arrested 11 suspected kidnappers and rescued two victims during security operations across the state.

The latest killings happened between Saturday night and Sunday morning in communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and nearby areas, according to local sources.

Five people traveling to Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area were killed when their vehicle was attacked on Saturday night.

Two other people, including a pastor, were killed at Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi on Sunday morning while heading to church, residents said.

These attacks caused panic in the area, with some residents moving women and children to safer places as gunshots rang out around the Kantoma axis.

Two more deaths were reported at Baten Wereng in Riyom Local Government Area and Ratyidi in Fan District.

The recent attacks occurred as security forces carried on with efforts against criminal groups in the state.

In a statement on Sunday, Captain Chinonso Oteh, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, said troops arrested 11 suspected members of a kidnapping group and rescued two victims during separate operations.

These operations took place on Saturday by troops from Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, who were deployed at Lamingo. This followed tips about suspected kidnappers working in Rayfield and other parts of Jos North Local Government Area.

Oteh said the troops raided suspected criminal hideouts at Shere, Gwafan, and Maza Hills, leading to the arrest of 11 suspects.

He mentioned that the operation was backed by information from two victims who were kidnapped from Gwafan community on September 18.

"During preliminary investigation, the victims positively identified three of the arrested suspects as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction," Oteh said.

The troops also recovered weapons during these operations.

In Bassa Local Government Area, troops from Sector 3 carried out a cordon-and-search operation at around 6 p.m. on Saturday. They arrested a suspect and recovered one locally made rifle from the operation.

In Mangu Local Government Area, troops from Sector 8 also conducted a patrol along the Tul-Ntam-Angwan Mata-Deng-Deng route.

This patrol led to the arrest of another suspect near the Water Board area after he tried to hide a weapon when he saw the troops.

The troops found a locally made automatic weapon, nine rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and a mobile phone from the suspect, according to the military.

Oteh said the suspects are in custody and are being investigated to find their links with other members of the group and help catch any fleeing suspects.

Maxwell Dangana, the Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, praised the troops for their work and encouraged them to keep going after criminal elements in the Joint Operations Area.

He also asked residents to keep giving reliable information to security agencies.

"The timely provision of credible information is key to the success of ongoing operations against criminals and efforts to keep the peace in the state," Oteh quoted the commander as saying.

The military said it is dedicated to protecting lives and property and improving security operations across Plateau.

As of Sunday, there was no official statement from the Plateau State Police Command on the total number of casualties from the recent attacks in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and surrounding areas.

Conflicting reports on the casualties could not be independently confirmed right away.