Troops of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE have arrested two suspected impostors dressed as security personnel in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State and neutralised three suspected terrorists in a separate operation in Wase Local Government Area.
The military disclosed that the operations, carried out late Thursday, followed renewed counter-terrorism deployments aimed at restoring peace in volatile parts of the state.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, troops responding to a distress call over sporadic gunfire at about 11:45 p.m. in the Dutse Uku area of Jos North intercepted two individuals allegedly masquerading as security operatives.
The suspects, dressed in tactical black uniforms, were reportedly caught while participating in the burning of residential houses and fuelling violence in the community.
The statement said the two suspects are currently in custody, while two persons who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident were evacuated by troops to a medical facility, where they are receiving treatment and are said to be in stable condition.
The task force said the arrest counters recent allegations of military involvement in the unrest in Jos North, insisting that criminal elements have been disguising themselves in security attire to perpetrate attacks and tarnish the image of the Armed Forces.
In a related operation in Karem, Wase Local Government Area, troops on heightened alert reportedly intercepted a large group of armed men moving on motorcycles.
The military said the suspected terrorists fled after coming under sustained gunfire from troops, but three of them were neutralised during the engagement.
It added that the success followed the deployment of a battalion and specialised counter-terrorism troops ordered earlier on Thursday by the Chief of Army Staff.
Captain Oteh described the reinforcement as a “game-changer,” saying the additional troops had strengthened the state’s security architecture and restored proactive control in flashpoints across Plateau.
He warned that hoodlums, insurgents and criminal gangs operating in the state would be decisively confronted as the military intensifies efforts to eliminate threats to public peace.
The Joint Task Force also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities to security agencies, assuring that ongoing operations are aimed at restoring lasting peace and order in Plateau State.
