Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a suspected bandit linked to a recent attack on illegal miners in Plateau State and recovered arms and ammunition during a raid on his hideout. The operation was conducted by the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP).
The raid took place on January 8 in the Yolan Gboka–Yama Da Lahdi area of Plateau State, following intelligence-led efforts to track those responsible for the December 16, 2025 attack on miners in Tosho community, Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The development was confirmed by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post shared on X.
Troops reportedly came under fire upon making contact with the bandits, resulting in a gun battle. One of the bandits, later identified as Sadiq Isah, was neutralised during the encounter, while others managed to escape.
Following the confrontation, the army secured the hideout and recovered two AK-47 rifles along with 162 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. The weapons have been taken into military custody, with the area fully secured.
Authorities said follow-up operations have been launched to track the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks in the region, as the army continues its efforts to maintain peace and security in Plateau State.
