Troops Kill Bandits, Arrest Arms Courier Transporting Arms, Ammunition By Motorbike In Plateau –Nigerian Army

Troops of the 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN under Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A have neutralised several bandits and intercepted a suspected arms courier in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, the Nigerian Army has said.

According to a statement released on Friday by the Army, the troops carried out a clearance operation on July 3, 2025, in the rugged terrains of Tulus and Hokk communities, located along the Plateau–Nasarawa border.

However, during the mission, they engaged armed militias in Hokk, resulting in a brief but decisive firefight that left several bandits dead. It noted that others fled into the surrounding forests.

Following the encounter, troops conducted a thorough sweep of the area and have since maintained dominance through regular mobile and static patrols aimed at preventing any regrouping of the criminal elements.

The statement read, “In continuation of ongoing efforts to rid the Joint Operations Area (JOA) of criminal elements, troops of 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN under Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A have sustained aggressive kinetic operations in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, yielding commendable outcomes.

“On 3 July 2025, troops carried out a clearance operation in the rugged terrains of Tulus and Hokk Communities, located along the Plateau–Nasarawa State border.

“During the mission, contact was made with armed militias in Hokk, leading to a brief but decisive firefight. Several bandits were neutralised, while others fled into surrounding forests.

“Troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the area and, though no further contact was established, have maintained control through mobile and static patrols to disrupt any regrouping attempts.”

The statement added that in a “separate operation later that evening at approximately 5:45pm, troops acting on credible intelligence apprehended a suspected gunrunner in Mangar, Daffo District of Bokkos LGA”.

It said, “The individual, caught transporting arms and ammunition on a motorcycle, was intercepted at a snap checkpoint.

“The suspect and recovered items are in custody, as investigations and follow-on operations continue to track other members of the arms smuggling network.

“These successful actions reaffirm the resolve of security forces to dismantle criminal syndicates and prevent the proliferation of illicit weapons threatening peace and security within the Joint Operations Area.”