Gunmen attack Plateau military checkpoint, kill soldier in Riyom, Nigeria

Gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in Plateau State, Nigeria, killing a soldier and stealing weapons, officials confirmed.

The attack occurred at about 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Sopp checkpoint in Ungwan Boka, Riyom Local Government Area, where troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) were stationed. The assailants opened fire from multiple directions, triggering a gun battle before fleeing into surrounding bushes.

Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, spokesman for OPEP, described the attack as "deliberate and unprovoked." He stated that troops had restored normalcy and were pursuing the perpetrators to recover the stolen weapons. The identity of the attackers has not been established.

The soldier's remains were evacuated to a military hospital, and reinforcement troops have launched a manhunt for the fleeing assailants.