Military uncovers plan to establish ISWAP bases in Plateau, Bauchi

•Arrests members, intercepts weapons •Terrorists kill family of three

TROOPS of Operations Safe Haven (OPSH) in charge of security in Plateau State have arrested two members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) sent to facilitate the establishment of an ISWAP base in Plateau and Bauchi States.

This was as terrorists in the state killed a family of three in a midnight raid at the Zogu community of Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area.

In a statement signed by the media officer of the OPSH, Major Samson Zahkom, the troops, in a coordinated operation on 11 April 2025, busted an ISWAP cell located around the Yelwa axis in the Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The statement depicted that during the sting operation, two suspected ISWAP members identified as Abdulkadir Dalhatu, 25 years old, and Ubaidu Hassan, 25 years old, posing as tailors, were arrested by troops.

It highlighted that preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested suspects were mandated by ISWAP commander to use the cover of tailoring to facilitate the establishment of ISWAP bases in Plateau and Bauchi States.

Also, the troops of Sector 4 OPSH conducted a follow-up operation at the hideout of a wanted criminal at Mazat Village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. During the operation, the suspect fled before troops arrived at the scene.

According to the statement, troops searched the hideout and recovered one AK-47 rifle with registration number 23402 as well as one AK-47 magazine buried in the building, adding that efforts are ongoing to nab the fleeing criminal and also recover other weapons in his possession.

It added that the troops of Sector 2, acting on credible intelligence, laid an ambush against bandits along Road Pinau-Bangalala in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State and neutralised one bandit while others fled with possible gunshot injuries.

Meanwhile, the Zugo community in the Miango District of the Bassa local government area of Plateau State has been thrown into mourning as terrorists killed a father and his two sons on Saturday.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the terrorists stormed the community in the early hours of Saturday, descended on the family, and terrorised other members of the community before they bolted away.

The Irigwe Development Association (IDA) in a statement signed by its Public Secretary, Sam Jugo, identified those killed as Weyi Gebeh, 56 years; Zhu Weyi, 25 years; and Henry Weyi, 16 years old, adding that the incident brings the number of deaths recorded in one week in the area to 9.

It therefore expressed its utmost displeasure at the deteriorating situation in Irigwe land and called on the security agencies to do whatever is required to halt this barbarism and apprehend the perpetrators.

“The way criminal elements invade our motherland and kill with impunity seems to suggest a more sinister motive than mere reprisal for alleged wrongs. IDA therefore calls on the Plateau State government and the security to do the needful and stop the killing of innocent people in Irigwe land,” Jugo said in the statement.

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