A soldier was killed on Saturday night, October 31, 2026, after unidentified gunmen launched a swift assault on a military checkpoint in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The ambush occurred around 8:00 PM at the Sopp checkpoint in Ungwan Boka, where troops from Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) were stationed. According to military sources, the assailants approached under the cover of night and opened fire from multiple directions, sparking an intense firefight.
Before retreating into the surrounding bushes, the attackers killed one soldier and carted away two military rifles. The slain officer’s body was later evacuated to the mortuary at the 3 Division Medical Services and Hospital (3 DMSH).
Confirming the incident, the Spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, condemned the assault, describing it as a cowardly and unprovoked attack on personnel deployed to protect civilians.
Captain Oteh assured the public that normalcy has since been restored to the Ungwan Boka and Sopp communities following the rapid deployment of reinforcement troops to the area. Military forces have launched an aggressive manhunt and offensive tracking operations to apprehend the fleeing perpetrators and recover the stolen firearms.
Task force officials continue to urge local residents to remain calm, carry on with their lawful activities, and report any credible information to security agencies to aid the ongoing investigation.
