Operation Enduring Peace troops intercepted a Volkswagen Golf in Plateau State and uncovered a concealed dashboard compartment containing rifles and other military items

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace foiled an alleged attempt to transport illicit arms through Zak Village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, August 29, 2026, recovering two AK-47 rifles and other items concealed inside a Volkswagen Golf.

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The operation was conducted during a stop-and-search exercise when soldiers intercepted the green vehicle for a routine inspection.

According to the Nigerian Army, the troops discovered a specially fabricated concealed compartment inside the vehicle’s dashboard during a thorough search.

The driver allegedly abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee into a nearby bush after troops directed him to open the compartment.

“Troops immediately pursued and apprehended him,” the Army said in a statement published on its official X account on Sunday.

The Army said the suspect subsequently attempted to disarm one of the soldiers while he was being restrained.

“However, while being restrained, the suspect attempted to disarm one of the soldiers, prompting a swift response during which he was neutralised,” the statement said.

A further search of the concealed compartment led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and one magazine.

Troops also recovered two wooden rifle butts, nine magazine pouches, two camel bags, six jungle hats, one mobile phone and one ATM card from the vehicle.

The recovery represents a significant interception in an area where security agencies have continued to maintain pressure on criminal networks operating across parts of Plateau State.

The Nigerian Army described the operation as evidence of the value of sustained security checks and intelligence-led interventions in disrupting the movement of illicit weapons.

“The recovery underscores the effectiveness of sustained security measures aimed at disrupting the movement and proliferation of illicit arms,” the Army said.

The latest interception comes against the backdrop of continuing security concerns across Plateau State, where communities in several local government areas have experienced attacks, killings and displacement linked to armed criminal and communal violence.

Wase is among the areas where security agencies have maintained heightened vigilance because of its strategic location and its road connections with other parts of the state and neighbouring areas.

The Nigerian Army said troops working with other security agencies would continue to maintain pressure on criminal elements and secure important routes and communities.

“Troops will continue to conduct robust stop-and-search operations and intelligence-driven interventions to detect, disrupt and dismantle networks involved in the trafficking of illicit arms and other instruments of violence,” the Army said.

The operation also highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods allegedly used to move weapons, with the concealed dashboard compartment allowing the firearms to be hidden from routine inspection.

Security agencies have repeatedly urged motorists and residents to report suspicious movements, particularly along routes considered vulnerable to the movement of criminal groups and weapons.

The Army appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying suspicious activities.

For communities in Wase and surrounding areas, the recovery offers a measure of reassurance, while also underscoring the continuing challenge posed by illicit arms trafficking.

The authorities have not disclosed the identity of the suspect or stated where the recovered weapons were allegedly being transported.

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Further investigation is expected to establish the origin and intended destination of the firearms and whether the suspect was connected to a wider arms trafficking network.