Arms Recovered as Troops Arrest 9
Troops under Operation Enduring Peace have arrested nine suspected members of a Berom militia allegedly linked to targeted killings in Plateau State, recovering weapons and ammunition during an operation in Riyom Local Government Area.
According to security sources, the suspects were apprehended in the early hours of April 18, 2026, after troops stationed in Ganawuri acted on intelligence about suspicious movements toward the Danwal area. The individuals were intercepted and found with bloodstains on their bodies, suggesting possible involvement in recent attacks.
The arrested persons were identified as Gyang Dantoro, Samson Davou, Choji Yakubu, Vincent Adamu, Pam Dalyop, Femi Badung, Jacob Musa, and Choji Chaga, all said to be residents of Danwal.
Items recovered from them include three motorcycles, a pistol, a submachine gun, a locally made revolver rifle, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, and another locally fabricated rifle.
The arrests come amid ongoing security challenges in Plateau State, particularly in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu local government areas, where repeated incidents of violence and reprisals have been recorded. Observers note that the pattern of attacks suggests the involvement of locally based armed groups rather than external actors.
Sources indicated that the suspects are currently in custody and are providing useful information regarding a series of recent attacks that have intensified tensions in the state.
Recent security reports point to a recurring cycle of violence involving Fulani bandits and armed Berom groups operating within affected communities.
On April 13, troops carried out a search-and-rescue operation in Ariri and Kwasha villages of Bassa LGA following reports of a missing herder. The herder was later found dead, while 32 cattle were recovered alive and three others dead. The remains and livestock were handed over to community leaders.
That same day, troops arrested four suspected illegal migrants at a settlement in Ungwan Doki, Riyom LGA. A day earlier, security forces intervened in a clash between farmers and herders in Rakum village, Barkin Ladi LGA, where several people, including a police officer, were injured and one suspect was arrested.
Troops also thwarted an attack on a herder in Rasa village, evacuated the injured victim, and responded to gunfire along the Hukke–Rewienko road in Bassa LGA, where they repelled attackers and rescued a civilian.
In Kpashio village, troops prevented a cattle rustling incident and recovered 92 cattle abandoned by fleeing suspects. The owner of the livestock was either killed or fled during the attack.
In a separate incident, armed Berom militia members reportedly engaged troops in a gun battle in Barkin Ladi, during which five attackers were killed. Their bodies were later buried by locals.
