By Israel Jang

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a suspected cultist and recovered a human skull alongside an illegal firearm in Jos. The arrest, made on April 29, 2026, followed intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks. Police say investigations are ongoing.

The Plateau State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in its ongoing operations against criminal activities, including cultism, illegal arms possession, and banditry.

Briefing journalists on May 1, 2026, at the Command Headquarters in Jos, the Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, confirmed the arrest of a 31-year-old suspect identified as David Ponnan.

According to the police, operatives acting on credible intelligence apprehended the suspect in the early hours of April 29 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) area in Lamingo.

Items reportedly recovered from the suspect include a locally made double-barrel pistol, a pump-action cartridge, and a human skull. The police described the recovery as significant, noting that it raises concerns about possible links to cult-related activities.

The suspect allegedly told investigators that he obtained the firearm from a local vigilante operative and modified it for personal use. Authorities say this claim is being verified as part of ongoing investigations.

Police sources indicate that efforts are underway to determine the origin of the recovered human skull and whether it is connected to any criminal activity.

Commissioner Ewah reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and urged residents to continue supporting law enforcement with timely and credible information.

The Command noted that the arrest forms part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks operating within Plateau State.