Troops eliminate six suspected terrorists in Plateau

Troops from Operation ENDURING PEACE have killed at least six suspected terrorists and seized locally made rifles in various operations across Plateau State, the military reported.

The soldiers also foiled another attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru on Thursday.

Chinonso Oteh, the military spokesperson for Operation ENDURING PEACE, shared this information in a statement on Thursday.

He mentioned that the operations took place between 26 June and 2 July in Jos South and Barkin Ladi local government areas. This was based on intelligence reports about armed groups in the Joint Operations Area.

Mr Oteh explained that Sector 6 troops began an operation on 26 June at Gero Highground in Jos South. This was after reports of "several nefarious activities" by suspected terrorists in the area.

The troops faced gunfire as they approached the suspected hideout, with the attackers allegedly hiding behind livestock.

“The timely arrival of reinforcement forced the terrorists to withdraw. Troops pursued the fleeing terrorists, neutralised some of them and continued combing the area to dismantle their enclaves,” he said.

The military did not provide an exact number of suspected terrorists killed during that operation.

Mr Oteh added that troops from Sector 5 intercepted a motorcycle with two passengers coming from Kuba District in Bokkos Local Government Area towards Maijanki in Barkin Ladi around 10 a.m. on the same day.

He noted that the two passengers ran away and left behind a bag when they saw soldiers at a checkpoint.

“A search of the bag led to the recovery of three locally fabricated rifles,” he said.

The motorcycle rider was arrested and is helping the investigators.

According to the military, the suspect claimed he was just transporting the passengers and did not know what was in the bag.

The military also reported that troops ambushed suspected terrorists on 30 June near Rafin Bauna and Gero mountains in Jos South.

Mr Oteh stated that five suspected terrorists were killed while others managed to escape.

He added that initial assessments and information from residents showed that some of those killed were on the military's wanted list for coordinating attacks in Jos South and neighbouring Bassa Local Government Area.

The latest operation happened just hours after suspected terrorists tried to attack the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.

Mr Oteh said troops guarding the institute came under attack at about 12:10 a.m. on Thursday. The attackers breached part of the perimeter fence under the cover of darkness.

He said the soldiers returned fire, killing one attacker while others fled.

“The body of the neutralised terrorist has been handed over to the police, while recovered arms and ammunition remain in military custody. Troops continue to dominate the area through aggressive patrols,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Thursday that security personnel stopped a similar attack on NIPSS on the night of 1 July. Suspected gunmen tried to force their way into the institute around 11 p.m.

The institute stated that one attacker was killed during the gunfire, while others escaped with injuries. It confirmed that no participant, staff member, or facility was harmed.

This incident occurred only weeks after another attempted attack on Nigeria’s top policy institute. This raised fresh concerns about increasing insecurity in Kuru and nearby communities.

The latest military actions follow an attack on a mining site at Nyango in Gyel District of Jos South on Tuesday. Three people were killed and two others injured by gunmen in that attack.

The Plateau State Government is responding to the worsening security situation by restructuring its security setup. On 30 June, Governor Caleb Mutfwang appointed retired Brigadier General Nash Yakubu as Coordinator of Operation Rainbow. He redeployed the former coordinator, Brigadier General Gakji Shipi Goshwe, to lead the Safe School Programme. He also named retired Major General Bala Isandu as Special Adviser on Security.

These changes come as the state works harder to tackle ongoing attacks and to act on recommendations from a peace process started after President Bola Tinubu met a high-level Plateau delegation on 27 April 2026. The committee, led by former governor Joshua Dariye, has submitted and secured the adoption of a report outlining measures to improve security, reconciliation, and long-term peace in the state.