Troops Intensify Jos Security as Operation Enduring Peace Nabs Gunmen

​JOS, NIGERIA – In a decisive response to the recent wave of violence that has claimed dozens of lives across Plateau State, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Enduring Peace, has saturated the Jos metropolis with a comprehensive stop-and-search operation.

​The strategic crackdown, which commenced Friday, follows the tragic Sunday night attack in Anguwan Rukuba that left 28 people dead. In a bid to forestall further bloodshed, troops have established a dominant presence across key flashpoints, including Jos North and Jos South.

​Arrests and Arms Recovery

​In a statement released Saturday, the JTF Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, confirmed that the heightened vigilance has already yielded critical arrests. Security forces intercepted two suspects found in possession of a fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action shotgun, four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a cutlass.

​The tactical sweeps targeted high-traffic transit routes and residential hubs, specifically:

• ​Dadinkowa and Old Airport Junction
• ​Tudun Wada * The State Low-Cost Housing Estate

​Crisis Averted at Yelwa Cattle Market

​Beyond the state capital, the military’s rapid response prevented a potential massacre in Shendam Local Government Area. Responding to a distress call regarding sporadic gunfire at the Yelwa Cattle Market, troops engaged unidentified gunmen in a firefight.

​”Upon arrival, the gunmen were forced to retreat into the surrounding bushes under superior tactical pressure,” Captain Oteh stated.

​During a post-engagement sweep, soldiers rescued two local residents suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were evacuated to a nearby medical facility and are currently receiving treatment.

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​Federal Reinforcements

​This operational surge coincides with the deployment of 850 additional specialized counter-terrorism troops, ordered by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, following his on-the-spot assessment of the state on Thursday.

​The military authorities have also successfully debunked rumors of “official complicity” in the unrest by recently arresting criminals caught operating in fake military uniforms. The Command has vowed to sustain this momentum until absolute normalcy is restored to all affected communities in Plateau.