Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) on Operation HAKORIN DAMISA IV, have arrested 54 criminal suspects for kidnapping, farm destruction, armed robbery, gunrunning, and illicit drug trafficking amongst others.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Operation SAFE HAVEN’s Media Information Officer, Captain Oya James, the arrests were made between the 28th and 4th of September 2023.
TheFact Daily gathers that the troops in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and local hunters neutralised 5 suspected kidnappers at Tahuwa community and recovered 3 AK 47 rifles, one SMG rifle, and 105 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
A sting operation carried out by troops along Plateau and Kaduna States led to the arrest of 3 kidnappers and a suspected bandit, identified as Dauda Tahiru, in connection with the last attack at Heipang village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Similarly, following actionable intelligence, troops tracked down and arrested a notorious gunrunner, Da Nyam, and one other at Kwang/Kafanchan communities of Jos South/Jama’a LGAs of Plateau and Kaduna States.
During the operation, troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, 55 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one DICON-graded AK 47 rifle with registration number 563706042, and 1 magazine. The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation.
Furthermore, troops conducted clearance operations at Alaghom village/Maijuju forest, Anguware hills, and Fofur general areas in Mangu LGA of Plateau State and recovered one motorcycle and one AK 47 rifle loaded with rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
OPSH handed over suspects and recovered truckloads with vandalised railway slippers to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Plateau State Command for further action.
Also, in response to a distress call, troops thwarted a criminal attack around Rokwat and Mararaban Kantoma villages in Barkin Ladi LGA and also contained a reprisal attack in Ruga Fulani at Danhausa village.
They rescued kidnapped victims, among whom are Alhaji Buba Musa, Friday Luka, Joy Sunday, Marachi Chimeze, and a pregnant woman at Munguna/Kuba/Kagoro/ Igai villages in Plateau and Kaduna States respectively.
In the same vein, troops apprehended one Mr Ibrahim Mohammed for car theft at Kamuru village in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State. They also recovered 11 empty cases and rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition while responding to a kidnap incident at Angware village in Jos East, Plateau State.
Additionally, troops arrested 2 herders, Musa Mamuda and Musa Alhaji for farm destruction at Yagbak village in Zango Kataf while 27 cows were recovered for grazing on a farmland at Bot village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State.
Similarly, 41 drug dealers were arrested at Congo Russia in Jos North and are currently in custody for further action to NDLEA.
“A total of 54 arrests were effected, 6 kidnappers neutralised, 7 victims rescued from kidnappers, 2 gunrunners arrested and 2 attacks on vulnerable communities deterred within the period while responding promptly to a total of 13 distress calls”, the statement said.
