Troops Bust Gunrunning Ring in Plateau, Recover AK-47s Amid Clash

Plateau State troops struck a major blow against arms proliferation on Christmas Eve, raiding a suspected gunrunning syndicate in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area, and seizing weapons amid fierce local resistance.

In an intelligence-driven operation launched in the early hours of December 24, 2025, soldiers from 3 Division Nigerian Army and Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Enduring Peace targeted a criminal network threatening the festive season’s peace. The raid yielded three arrests and a haul of illicit arms, including two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, one round of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, two knives, and three mobile phones.

As troops withdrew with the suspects and recovered items, they faced violent opposition from a mob of women and youths who blocked roads, opened fire, and hurled stones at personnel and vehicles. One army officer suffered injuries, a Hilux vehicle’s radiator was damaged, and a gun truck’s windscreen shattered. Troops exercised restraint, contained the chaos, and withdrew safely.

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The suspects and arms remain in military custody for interrogation, with ongoing operations to nab fleeing syndicate members and dismantle the network. This action aligns with heightened security measures ahead of the yuletide, amid Plateau’s history of banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and arms trafficking fueling instability.

Recent reports from Plateau’s security landscape underscore the raid’s urgency. JTF Operation Enduring Peace, activated in recent years, combats proliferation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where illicit weapons exacerbate communal violence. A November 2025 Liberty TV update highlighted similar recoveries in Bokkos, including pistols and ammo, signaling persistent threats. No independent confirmation of today’s specific incident surfaced online by press time, but military statements via Naija News and Daily Post emphasize proactive raids to curb holiday spikes in crime.

Major Samson Natip Zhakom, JTF OPEP Media Information Officer, affirmed the troops’ commitment: “We remain resolute in safeguarding lives and property. Citizens must cooperate, as obstructing operations breaches security laws.”

This operation highlights the military’s push to choke criminal supply lines, fostering stability in a region scarred by over 200 deaths in ethno-religious clashes this year alone, per International Crisis Group data.