Troops Take Custody Of Suspected Army Deserter Arrested In Plateau

Nigerian troops of Operation Enduring Peace have taken custody of a suspected Nigerian Army deserter.

Naija News reports that a security and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post on 𝕏 on Friday.

He explained that the suspect was apprehended by the police during a raid operation in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Makama, citing intelligence sources, stated that the soldier, identified as Yakubu Bilal, was arrested by operatives of the Keystone Police Division during a raid in Pankshin on Wednesday.

Following the arrest, troops from Sector 8 of Operation Enduring Peace moved to the police station and took the suspect into custody for further military investigation.

According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that the soldier allegedly deserted from his unit, 24 Task Force Brigade, in 2024 and had since been absent without official authorisation.

Military sources said contact has been established with the soldier’s parent unit 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 further investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, fresh gunmen attacked at Kawel village, Mushere District of Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, leaving 18 farmers dead and several others injured.

Naija News learnt that the attack occurred around 11:30 p.m on Sunday.

According to Daily Trust, Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying his colleague and a member of the youth council reported the incident as it happened.

Narrating the attack, Luka said he reported the matter to security personnel stationed in Bokkos as soon as he was informed.

The youth leader described the attack as unprovoked and called on security forces to take decisive action to arrest the situation before it escalates.

He said, “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.”

At the time of filing this report, both spokespersons of the state police command and Operation Enduring Peace, SP Alabo Alfred and Captain Polycarp Auta, have not issued any statement regarding the incident.

The Sunday night attack occurred less than five days after the District Head of Gwande in the same Bokkos LGA, Saf Samuel Alaket, was killed in an ambush along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community.

The deceased was returning home after a traditional council meeting when he ran into the ambush.