Troops foil bandit attack, kill two, recover arms in Plateau

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation SAFE HAVEN have successfully foiled a planned attack by suspected bandits on Nteng community in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Acting on credible intelligence, the troops laid an ambush and engaged the assailants in a gun battle on Wednesday.

According to a statement released by Samson Zhakom, a major and the Media Information Officer of Operation SAFE HAVEN, made available to Journalists on Thursday in Jos said the troops made contact with the bandits as they approached the community, resulting in a firefight. Two of the armed criminals were neutralised during the encounter.

The military revealed that the remaining bandits fled the scene with likely gunshot wounds, as indicated by visible blood trails along their escape route. The troops have since launched a pursuit operation to intercept the fleeing suspects.

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“A subsequent sweep of the area led to the recovery of various weapons and rounds of ammunition abandoned by the attackers. These recovered items are now in the custody of the troops for further investigation and operational use”.

Zhakom described the success as a reflection of the high morale and combat readiness of the soldiers involved in Operation SAFE HAVEN. He reaffirmed the troops’ commitment to protecting communities and eradicating threats posed by armed groups in the area.

He further noted that collaboration with locals remains critical in tackling criminal activity. He called on residents to continue providing timely and actionable intelligence to security agencies for improved operational outcomes.

Operation SAFE HAVEN is a joint military task force operating in Plateau and surrounding states to address insecurity caused by banditry, communal clashes, and other criminal activities.