The military taskforce in Plateau, Bauchi, and Southern Kaduna, code-named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), on Monday, announced that it has arrested some suspected individuals linked to murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
The Operation Safe Haven said troops recovered recovered some arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs during the operation.
Spokesman of the OPSH, Captain Oya James, made revelation in Jos, Plateau State.
Captain James noted that Operation Hakorin Damisa IV which took place between August 21 to 28, 2023, led to the arrest of 17 criminal suspects.
“The troops arrested five murder suspects for killing Joshua Deme on his farm at Kassa village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops also carried out a sting operation at Jagindi Tasha village in Jema’a LGA, Kaduna State, where a suspected kidnapper, Baba Yusuf Habu, who has been on the wanted list of OPSH, was arrested.
“Another kidnapping incident was foiled at Angwan Takai village in Bokkos LGA following the prompt response to a distress call by the troops. In a similar development, troops raided the hideouts of criminals at Gwash and Kamantan villages in Jos North and Zango Kataf LGAs of Plateau and Kaduna states and recovered a pistol, cartridges, and rounds of 7.62mm special bullets.”
He said further: “A notorious armed robber, Mohammed Lawal, was also arrested in Kafanchan town by troops, and two fabricated rifles and one pistol were recovered. In the same vein, troops intercepted a truck with registration number EKY617XF conveying vandalised railway tracks along the road to Gidan Ado village in Riyom LGA of Plateau State.
“Also, a drug kingpin, Maxwell Dusu Davou, was nabbed during a sting operation with substances suspected to be illicit drugs at Waye Foundation Du in Jos South LGA. Furthermore, a fighting patrol made contact around the Alaghom and Mangu axes, leading to the neutralisation of some bandits.”
According to him: “A total of 17 arrests were made, nine victims were rescued from kidnappers, six armed robbery attempts were foiled, and four attacks on vulnerable communities were deterred within the period.”
OPSH thereby gave assurance that maximum security and prompt responses to all distress calls with a view to curbing the tide of criminal activities would be ensured in the affected states.
