A dramatic confrontation between Nigerian Army troops and a kidnapping gang in Plateau State resulted in the death of two suspects on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The incident occurred in the Kadarko District of Wase Local Government Area during a counter-kidnapping operation led by the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE (JTF OPEP).
The encounter began when troops, acting on credible intelligence, raided a hideout near Lantom Village. While the raid led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of a fabricated rifle, an axe, and a machete, two other gang members managed to escape with an AK-47 rifle. Following the arrests, the detained suspects offered to lead the soldiers to a hidden cache of arms and ammunition on the outskirts of Kadarko.
The situation turned violent during the transit to the arms cache. According to a statement from the Nigerian Army, the suspects made a “desperate attempt” to snatch a rifle from one of the soldiers in a bid to escape. The troops responded immediately, neutralizing the suspects during the struggle.
Major General EF Oyinlola, General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, commended the soldiers for their professionalism and gallantry. He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to securing Plateau State and urged the public to continue providing timely information to security forces. Follow-up operations are still underway to apprehend the two fleeing gang members and recover the missing AK-47
