TROOPS of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) have dealt a significant blow to illegal arms trafficking in the region, arresting a suspected high-profile weapons dealer with links to an interstate criminal network.
The operation, which unfolded on Sunday, 14 June 2026, was triggered by actionable intelligence regarding the movement of illicit weaponry across state lines.
Acting swiftly, soldiers from Sector 6, in coordination with Headquarters Operation ENDURING PEACE, mounted a carefully planned intelligence-led interception.
The suspect was spotted travelling in a white Peugeot vehicle from Jos South heading towards the Makera axis in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
After being placed under surveillance, he was stopped at a military checkpoint in Makera.
A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered a small arsenal: two locally fabricated pistols, 167 rounds of 9mm ammunition, three cans of pepper spray, and a jack knife. Officers also recovered two mobile phones, two cutlasses, a police staff tag, photographs of the suspect in police uniform, two ATM cards, a National Identification Number (NIN) card, and £73,300 in cash.
Preliminary investigations have identified the suspect as Inspector Danjuma Yusuf, a former officer attached to the Nigeria Police Force Base 7 in Abuja who was subsequently dismissed from service.
Intelligence sources suggest Yusuf is a central figure in an interstate arms trafficking syndicate, allegedly supplying weapons to criminal elements engaged in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across the region.
He remains in military custody, where further interrogations are underway to unravel his full network, including associates, financiers, and supply chains.
A senior military source described the arrest as a major disruption to illegal arms trafficking networks, adding that it underscores the effectiveness of ongoing intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing the proliferation of illicit weapons.
The Nigerian Army, working alongside other security agencies, has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while sustaining offensive operations against all threats to national security.
The public has been urged to continue providing timely and credible information to support efforts to dismantle criminal networks and restore lasting peace.
