Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have taken custody of a suspected Nigerian Army deserter following his arrest by police in Plateau State.
Security and counter-insurgency analyst, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post on X on Friday, citing intelligence sources.
According to the report, the suspect, identified as Yakubu Bilal, was arrested by operatives of the Keystone Police Division during a raid operation in Pankshin Local Government Area on Wednesday.
Following his arrest, troops attached to Sector 8 of Operation Enduring Peace reportedly took custody of the suspect from the police for further military investigation.
Preliminary findings indicated that Bilal allegedly deserted his unit, 24 Task Force Brigade, in 2024 and had remained absent without official authorisation since then.
Military sources disclosed that the soldier’s parent unit has been contacted to facilitate the necessary administrative and disciplinary procedures.
The suspect is currently being held at the Headquarters of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, in Mangu, where investigations are ongoing.
Fresh Attack Leaves 18 Farmers Dead
Meanwhile, suspected gunmen have reportedly killed 18 farmers in a fresh attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack was said to have occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, throwing the community into mourning.
Confirming the incident, Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, said he received a distress call from a fellow youth leader while the attack was ongoing.
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Luka explained that he immediately alerted security personnel stationed in Bokkos after receiving the report.
He described the attack as unprovoked and urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent a further escalation of violence in the area.
“A youth leader called around 12 a.m. that gunmen attacked the community and shot over 20 people, so 18 were confirmed dead.
“I called the security, and they confirmed to me that they had been alerted and were on their way to the attacked community,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, nor the spokesman for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Auta, had issued an official statement on the attack.
The latest assault comes less than a week after the District Head of Gwande, Saf Samuel Alaket, was killed in an ambush along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community in the same Bokkos Local Government Area.
The traditional ruler was reportedly returning home from a traditional council meeting when he was attacked by gunmen.