Troops Foil Militia Attacks in Plateau, Recover Arms Amid Rising Violence
JOS, Nigeria — Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) successfully thwarted coordinated militia attacks on five communities in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State on April 12, 2025, recovering an AK-47 rifle and six motorcycles after an intense gun battle. The operation, part of the ongoing Operation Lafiyan Jama’a, comes amid a surge in violence in Nigeria’s north-central region, with over 100 deaths reported in Plateau since late March. The successful intervention, trending on X with #PlateauSecurity (120,000 posts), highlights the military’s efforts to curb insecurity, but persistent attacks and allegations of security lapses fuel public frustration and calls for systemic reform as of April 25, 2025.
Details of the Foiled Attack
On April 12, 2025, OPSH troops repelled militia attacks targeting Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Taddai, and Hurti communities in Bokkos LGA, per Voice of Nigeria. Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, OPSH Media Information Officer, reported that troops encountered the militia during routine patrols, engaging them in a fierce shootout that forced the attackers to flee, abandoning one AK-47 rifle and six motorcycles, per Legit.ng. Blood traces along the withdrawal route suggested militia casualties, though no specific figures were confirmed, per Voice of Nigeria.
Further clearance operations on April 13 in Hurti revealed militia activity in the surrounding mountainous area. Troops used high-volume fire to dislodge the criminals, who withdrew in disarray, per Voice of Nigeria. Additional operations in Barkin Ladi LGA’s Dome Hill, Rahul Mazat, and Anguwa Mamuda recovered a fabricated revolver rifle, one round of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and N89,800 in cash, though suspects escaped, per Voice of Nigeria. In Wase LGA, troops and local vigilantes cleared bandits along Kampani Zurak road, per Voice of Nigeria.
Broader Security Operations
The Bokkos intervention follows other OPSH successes. On April 11, troops foiled an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) plot to establish bases in Plateau and Bauchi, arresting two suspects, Abdulkadir Dalhatu and Ubaidu Hassan, in Shendam LGA, per The ICIR. The suspects, posing as tailors, were linked to an ISWAP commander aiming to expand cells in the North-Central region, per The ICIR. In February 2025, OPSH rescued three kidnap victims in Mangu LGA and thwarted a robbery in Kaduna, per Daily Post Nigeria and Daily Post Nigeria.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang praised the operations, stating on X, “I commend the gallant efforts of our security forces in restoring peace across affected communities,” per X Post. However, he labeled recent attacks as “genocide sponsored by terrorists,” urging security agencies to uncover sponsors, per Legit.ng.
Escalating Violence in Plateau
The foiled attack contrasts with recent failures. On April 14, 2025, gunmen killed at least 51 people in Zike and Kimakpa communities in Bassa LGA, per Reuters. Amnesty International criticized “inexcusable security lapses,” noting 1,336 deaths in Plateau from December 2023 to February 2024, per Reuters. The Irigwe Youth Movement (IYM) reported prior warnings ignored by security forces, per HumAngle.
Earlier, on April 7, 52 people died in Bokkos, with 1,820 displaced, per Reuters. President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, ordering investigations, but critics, including analyst Ruth Ki, argue the government underestimates the crisis by framing it as communal clashes, per HumAngle. The IYM and Governor Mutfwang allege a deliberate land-grabbing campaign by armed herders, per HumAngle.
Public and Political Reactions
Public sentiment on X reflects relief and frustration. @DejiAdesogan praised OPSH’s Shendam raid on ISWAP, per X Post, while @ChristianEmerg1 celebrated a repelled attack in Riyom on April 15, urging Christian communities to arm themselves, per X Post. @ZariyiYusufu reported an ongoing Islamist attack in Tohjul, Riyom, on April 15, later repelled, per X Post. @vanguardngrnews noted 49 deaths in Bassa, with troops rescuing 16, per X Post.
Civil society groups, including Amnesty International, demand accountability for security failures, per Reuters. The Independent Newspaper criticized the proximity of attacks to the 3rd Division Headquarters, calling it a “slap on security operatives,” per Independent Nigeria.
Critical Analysis and Context
The narrative of farmer-herder clashes, often cited by officials, oversimplifies the crisis. Climate change and grazing land reduction are factors, but evidence suggests organized criminal groups and ethnic militias exploit these tensions, per TheCable. The centralized police force, with 370,000 officers, is underfunded and overstretched, with a third guarding VIPs, per Council on Foreign Relations. Proposals for state police, deferred by the NEC on April 24, could enhance local response, per TheCable.
Nigeria’s broader challenges include a naira at N1,610/$1, 40% inflation, and 95 million in poverty, per NBS. Security incidents, with over 120 deaths in April, and mpox cases strain resources, per The Punch and Al Jazeera. Cultural moments like Wizkid’s Morayo offer relief, per BellaNaija.
Looking Ahead
OPSH’s successes highlight military resolve, but persistent attacks underscore systemic gaps. The Chief of Army Staff’s promise of more troops, per allAfrica, may bolster efforts, but analysts like Taiwo Mustapha advocate for a mobile alert system and private-sector collaboration, per TheCable. Without addressing root causes—land disputes, criminal networks, and security lapses—Plateau risks further violence, potentially destabilizing Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Key Metrics: Plateau Security (2025)
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths (April 2025) | Over 100 (Bokkos, Bassa) | Reuters |
| Displaced (Bokkos) | 1,820 | Reuters |
| Recovered Items (Bokkos) | 1 AK-47, 6 motorcycles | Legit.ng |
| ISWAP Suspects Arrested | 2 (Shendam) | The ICIR |
| X Posts (#PlateauSecurity) | 120,000 | X Data |
