He Nigerian military said troops and police personnel attached to the Operations SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) and HAKORIN DAMISA units in Plateau and Kaduna states have arrested several persons allegedly involved in kidnapping, banditry, arms trafficking and other crimes in both states.
The military said the arrests were made between October and November. He said 15 suspects were arrested in connection with kidnapping, murder, arms trafficking, criminal attacks, livestock theft, drug trafficking, destruction of farms, as well as recovered weapons/ammunition and illicit drugs.
The statement said that on November 6, troops arrested Jerome Bulus-Alamba and Denis Yohanna at Fang village in Plateau Local Government in Riyom, in connection with the murder of one Abdulkarim Sa’idu on October 24 of 2023.
In a similar incident, on November 7, OPSH Sector 5 troops arrested one Yakubu Shanono in Plateau Local Government in Bokkos in connection with the murder of a mobile police officer attached to OPSH, the statement added.
“On the same day (November 7), security agents also detained 75 cows to destroy a farm in Kassa village in Barkin Ladi local government of Plateau State.
“Further, the statement said that the next day, November 8, security operatives together with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Pankshin Command carried out raid operations at the hideout of the traffickers. of illicit drugs in Bargar village in Kanam local government. of Plateau and arrested four suspects and handed them over to NDLEA for further action.
“On November 9, troops also arrested two suspected criminals, Haruna Yusuf and Zubairu Jibril, while they were trying to evade the troops checkpoint at Chanso village in the Mangu Council area of Plateau, the criminals were arrested in possession of a rifle.
“Furthermore, on November 10, troops acting on credible information arrested a suspected kidnapper, Sani Suleiman, in Mista Ali village in Jos North local government. “On the same day, troops deployed in Zangon Kataf arrested a suspected kidnapper, Anu Usman, in Kamaru village in Zangon Kataf local government of Kaduna State,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the troops also recovered 144 stolen cattle after a gunfight with the suspected outlaws in Sat, a village in Bokkos local government in Plateau State.
“On November 11, OPSH Sector 6 troops rescued two kidnapped victims, Micheal James and John D, in Angwan Buka village in Riyom Local Government of Plateau State.
“The rescued victims were abducted while traveling along Hawan Kibo Highway in Riyom LGA and have since been reunited with their families,” the statement added.
The military added that on November 12, combined troops of OPSH and State Security Services (SSS) arrested a known arms dealer, Bala Inusa alias Maigero, in Barkin Ladi local government in the state. of Plateau.
The army said Inusa was on the wanted list of security agencies and was arrested with an AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, a pistol, 417 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a Toyota Starlet vehicle. with Adamawa license plate. MUB – 779JB and a Tecno Dual SIM phone.
READ ALSO: Troops arrest 34 suspected arms dealers and others in Plateau, Kaduna
Another arms dealer was arrested during undercover operations on November 12 in Danmakasuwa Mariri axis of southern Kaduna with an AK-47 rifle.
“Similarly, on November 12, troops of the OPSH Task Force, while responding to a distress call in Dakanung village in Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, arrested a miscreant, Bala Yerima, and “Objects were recovered, including an AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, six rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and a red Boxer motorcycle,” the statement said.
“In a related development, based on intelligence gathering, troops captured one Davou Barry of Gyel District at Kara Market of Bukuru area of Jos South LGA with 54 rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition and one of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition while trying to make an exchange.
“Over the course of a week, Operation SAFE HAVEN achieved the conviction of two suspects, Zubairu Usman and Saminu Haruna, charged with criminal conspiracy and robbery. “The suspects pleaded guilty and were sentenced to two years in prison each with the option of a fine,” the statement said.
