Army arrests two over burning of vigilante office in Jos North
- Troops of Operation Enduring Peace arrested two suspects in the NEPA area of Jos North, Plateau State.
- The army says the two are linked to an attack on vigilante members and the burning of their office.
- Both are in custody for investigation; the army is asking residents to pass on credible information.
Two people have been taken into custody in connection with an attack on a vigilante group and the torching of the group's office in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, the military says.
The arrests were made at about 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in the NEPA area of Jos North, according to Capt. Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, media information officer of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), the military outfit handling security in the state. Soldiers from the operation's Sector 1 carried out the arrests, he said.
Oteh told journalists in Jos on Wednesday that the two were picked up on suspicion of taking part in the attack on the vigilante members and the fire that destroyed their office. He did not say when the attack itself happened, how many vigilantes were hurt, or what the office was used for.
He said the suspects remain in custody while investigators look into the case, and that they will face "necessary action" afterwards.
Why it matters
Vigilante groups are a common line of defence in Plateau communities, where residents often rely on local guards alongside the police and military. An attack on such a group, and the loss of its office, can leave a neighbourhood feeling exposed.
Jos North has seen repeated security incidents in recent months. On Monday, Oteh said, troops arrested a man suspected of posing as a soldier in the area over alleged phone snatching and causing a disturbance.
The army did not name the two suspects, and no charges have been announced. Being arrested is not the same as being convicted.
What happens next
Oteh said the military will keep up operations to find and arrest anyone threatening peace in Plateau State. He asked residents to share timely and credible information with the military and other security agencies, saying public support is key to preventing crime and catching suspects.
For now, the two men stay in custody as the investigation continues. Residents of the NEPA area and nearby parts of Jos North will be watching to see whether the case moves to court and whether the vigilante group rebuilds its presence.
