A funeral for victims of violent attacks in Angwan Rukuba, Plateau State, was disrupted on Tuesday when women stormed the church premises demanding the release of youths arrested during a military security operation.
The protesters insisted the detained youths were not criminals but community members providing local security, demanding their immediate release.
The arrests followed a late-night operation by troops under Operation ENDURING PEACE responding to reports of sporadic gunfire, arson, and coordinated attacks in the area. According to a security report, the violence targeted a Hausa man whose home was set ablaze, injuring two members of his family.
Troops arrived before the attackers could lynch him, engaging them in a gun battle that forced them to flee, leaving two suspects behind.
The two arrested suspects were reportedly found dressed in tactical-style uniforms and accused of impersonating security operatives while coordinating the attacks and burning residential structures. Two other individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the incident and have been evacuated for medical treatment.
In a separate operation, troops conducting stop-and-search patrols across Jos metropolis — covering flashpoints including Dadinkowa, Tudun Wada, Old Airport Junction, and the State Low-cost area — arrested two additional suspects.
Security personnel recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a pump-action firearm, and a cutlass.
Troops also responded to a distress call at the Yelwa Cattle Market area in Shendam Local Government Area, where gunmen opened sporadic fire before retreating into surrounding bushes. Two injured civilians were later found and evacuated for treatment.
The military said the operations are aimed at restoring normalcy and preventing further escalation of violence across the state.
The protest in Angwan Rukuba, however, underscored a recurring challenge in parts of Plateau State, where security operations frequently meet community resistance — particularly in polarised environments where suspects are shielded and competing narratives obscure accountability.
