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By Raymond Gukas, Jos
About 39 suspected hardened criminals and 300 cows have been arrested by the Operation Safe Haven, (OPSH), personnel in Plateau State in the last one week.
According to a statement by Captain James Oya, spokesperson of OPSH made available to newsmen in Jos, those arrested include bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers.
The troops who are attached to Operations HAKORIN DAMISA IV also recovered arms/ammunition and hard drugs, it said.
It further stressed that the suspects were arrested at different locations within the Joint Operation Area of Operation Safe Haven and 3 Division Nigerian Army Area of Responsibility.
“Two of the suspects have been on the wanted list for involvement in several armed robbery and kidnaping activities.
“Troops recovered 1 AK 47 rifle, 1 pump-action magnum gun, 1 AK 47 Magazine, 14 rounds of 7.62mm special and an itel mobile phone from the suspects. A suspected kidnapper and arms dealer was also captured at Kuba village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State. Similarly, troops arrested 2 militia gang members identified to be among those who attacked Heipang general area recently and recovered 2 x AK 47 rifles,7 fabricated rifles and 4 pump action cartridges during the operations.
The statement also added that “A drug syndicate operating in Bassa LGA was also nabbed during a sting operations and 7 drug peddlers arrested with a large cache of drugs.”
Additionally, troops arrested a total of 307 cows for grazing on farmlands belonging to locals at Kubat Community and Mabel village of Mangu and Bokkos LGAs respectively.
Furthermore, a total of 37 distress calls were promptly responded to by OPSH within the period leading to the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims, foiling of cattle rustling and repelling of attacks on vulnerable communities especially in Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs.
The statement further reads that “OPSH remains committed to bringing lasting peace to the Plateau and would continue to be responsive and swift in protecting the lives and property of citizens.”
