By: Our Correspondent
In a heart-stopping operation, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) intercepted a man allegedly armed with a firearm at a church compound in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday morning, averting what officials fear could have been a catastrophic attack.
The suspect was apprehended at approximately 8:30 a.m. during a routine security patrol near the church premises. Acting on intelligence, NSCDC operatives swooped in and discovered the individual carrying a gun with no valid documentation or explanation.
“The suspect could not justify why he was armed at a worship center. Our swift action prevented a major security breach,” an NSCDC insider revealed to, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. While the suspect’s identity remains undisclosed pending investigation, the incident has sent shockwaves through Bokkos, a region still scarred by recent violence.
Though authorities have not explicitly linked the arrest to broader threats, the timing and location — a church in a state plagued by sectarian clashes and bandit raids — have intensified fears of targeted attacks on soft targets. Plateau State has endured relentless bloodshed, including the December 2023 Christmas Eve massacre that claimed nearly 200 lives across Bokkos and Barkin Ladi.
Residents praised the NSCDC’s vigilance. “This could’ve been another tragedy. God saved us today,” said a churchgoer who witnessed the arrest.
The NSCDC has launched a full probe into the suspect’s motives and potential connections to criminal networks. No group has claimed responsibility, but security analysts warn that the incident underscores the persistent vulnerability of religious institutions in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt.
As Plateau holds its breath, questions loom: Was this a lone wolf act, or the tip of a sinister iceberg? For now, the NSCDC’s heroics have bought a fragile peace — and a stark reminder that danger still lurks in the shadows.
