Nigerian Army troops have recovered five rifles and 15 rounds of ammunition during an operation aimed at preventing a suspected attack on Mwar community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Army said on Thursday that troops operating under Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, launched the operation after receiving intelligence of an alleged plan by suspected bandit militias to attack the community.
The intelligence reportedly linked the planned assault to the alleged rustling of an unspecified number of cattle, said to have been taken from the area by some youths.
Following the alert, troops deployed for a fighting patrol and targeted searches around Mwar in Chakfem Kingdom, with the dual objective of locating the missing cattle and identifying those behind the alleged rustling.
The Army said surveillance drones and other intelligence-gathering equipment were deployed to search surrounding settlements and bush paths, but the missing cattle were not found.
Investigators, however, identified Pantong Stanley and other youths from the community as alleged suspects.
Troops subsequently raided Stanley’s residence, although he was not at home when the operation was conducted.
The search yielded one AK-47 rifle, one locally fabricated AK-47, one locally manufactured revolver rifle, two Dane guns and 15 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
The Army said security forces, working alongside the police and other agencies, had continued searches around locations linked to other suspects.
The ongoing operation is also focused on recovering the missing cattle, locating possible arms caches and arresting persons allegedly connected to the incident.
The Army urged residents to remain alert and provide security agencies with credible information capable of helping to prevent attacks and illegal arms proliferation.
It said troops would continue operations aimed at protecting communities and maintaining peace across Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.
