Army arrests suspected gunrunner in Plateau, rescues kidnap victim in Edo

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a 30-year-old woman, Halima Ibrahim, suspected of arms trafficking, during an intelligence-led operation in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The operation, conducted by troops of Operation Enduring Peace in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, followed the abduction of a medical doctor, Abraham Owoicho, on Wednesday.

According to a statement on X by the Nigerian Army on Friday, troops raided Kisayi and Dogon Daji settlements after receiving intelligence linked to the abduction.

The Army said some residents fled into the surrounding bush when they sighted the troops, while Mrs Ibrahim was arrested as she attempted to escape with two AK-47 rifle magazines.

A subsequent search of her residence in Kisayi B Village led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a locally fabricated revolver, a military jungle hat and three mobile phones.

The Army said preliminary investigations indicated that the AK-47 rifle allegedly belonged to Mrs Ibrahim’s husband.

The development comes amid heightened security operations in Plateau State, where troops and other security agencies have intensified efforts to disrupt criminal networks involved in kidnapping and arms trafficking.

In a separate operation in Edo State, troops working with the Edo State Security Corps rescued a 35-year-old kidnap victim, Mohammed Oboarekpe, after engaging suspected kidnappers along the Afawosa–Iyora Road in Etsako West Local Government Area.

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The Army said its troops laid an ambush at Powerline Uzairue after receiving intelligence on the movement of suspected kidnappers in the area.

According to the military, the troops sighted the suspects moving with their victim and engaged them, forcing the kidnappers to abandon Oboarekpe and flee.

The victim told the troops that he had been abducted from his residence in South Ibie on Thursday.

The Army said the operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in kidnapping, arms trafficking and other violent crimes.

It urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations.

The military also reiterated its commitment to intelligence-driven operations carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and local security stakeholders to protect communities across the country.