No fewer than 73 kidnappers, including bandits who have been terrorizing various communities in Plateau and Kaduna states, were arrested by troops of Operation Safe Haven.
Captain Oya James, the military task force’s spokesman, made the announcement in Jos on Monday.
He stated that several of the criminals were neutralised during the week-long raids.
He said, “Troops of Operation Safe Haven on Operation Hakorin Damisa IV from October 16 to 22, 2023, neutralised suspected bandits and arrested 73 suspects in connection with kidnapping, criminal attacks, cattle rustling, gunrunning, farm destruction, as well as recovered arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs.
“On October 18, 2023, troops of Operation Hakorin Damisa IV arrested 16 suspects in connection with the murder of two women, Victoria Wetsan and Nagung Sale, while working on farmland at Binkwaghas Village, Panyam District of Mangu LGA.
“Also on October 19, 2023, troops arrested two suspects, Mohammed Yusuf and Aliyu Adamu, in connection with the isolated killing of one Yahaya Adamu at Kibul forest in the Riyom LGA of Plateau State.”
Furthermore,the military spokesman added that “within the week, four bandits were neutralised, 73 suspects arrested with arms and ammunition, 37 suspected kidnappers arrested, four victims rescued from kidnappers, two cattle rustlers arrested, four suspects arrested for illicit drug peddling, five attacks on vulnerable communities were deterred, and 28 distress calls were promptly responded to.”