Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested 3 more suspects in connection with the recent killings in Plateau State.
The Police on Monday, said the arrests followed a series of successful operations targeting criminal conspiracy, gunrunning, and unlawful possession of firearms strongly linked to earlier incidents in the State.
Recent attacks in the state have resulted in significant loss of life. On April 14, 2025, gunmen attacked the Zikke community in Bassa Local Government Area, killing 51 people in the early hours of the day. The Irigwe Youth Movement confirmed the deaths of its kinsmen in this incident.
A more recent attack occured on the Zike community in Bassa, resulting in over 40 deaths as armed assailants continued a deadly pattern of midnight assaults. Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, strongly condemned the killings, describing it as an “inexcusable security failure”.
The Police Force said operatives in a focused operation on May 3, 2025, at about 4:30 PM, apprehended one Abubakar Jibrin from Kalone Community, Shendam LGA, Plateau State. Jibrin was found to be in unlawful possession of prohibited firearms. Following his arrest, Jibrin’s confession led to the discovery of one SMG rifle with an empty magazine at his residence.
Furthermore, on May 4, 2025, in Barkin Ladi, Police operatives recovered two fabricated revolver rifles. The firearms were linked to cartridges originating from a suspect identified as Ismail Danjuma, who is now in custody and assisting with the ongoing investigation on the killings on the Plateau.
The Force said it is “diligently ensuring every person complicit in these condemnable killings is brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law”.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged members of the public to maintain calmness, continue providing crucial information and unalloyed support that can aid efforts of the NPF in restoring peace in these disturbed areas and other parts of the country.
