Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Wednesday, July 17, treated select journalists to a harvest of sophisticated weapons and ammunition recovered from from communities in the Fann District of Barkin-Ladi local government area of Plateau State following mop up operations in the area.
Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, Major Aliyu Danja, who conducted journalists to the community, seven suspects were also arrested during the operation which came following an attack on operatives the OPSH which led to the killing of an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Christopher Luka Agwom, on July 10th.
While addressing journalists at a press, Maj. Danja said the arrest and recovery of cache of weapons followed an operation conducted by a tactical team drawn from the 3rd Div. of the Nigerian Army and OPSH troops between July 10 and June 16.
Maj. Danja stated that the team, while conducting an operation to recover arms from a gunrunners’ hideout at Sangasa community in Fann District, was attacked in the early hours of July 10 by the suspects and their allies, some of whom are currently on the run.
In a press release issued by Maj. Danja, reads:
“3 Division and Operation SAFE HAVEN, in pursuance of one of its core operational mandates of mopping up illegal arms and ammunition from the hands of unauthorised persons conducted operations at Fann District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State from 10 – 16 July 2024.
“It would be recalled that a tactical team of 3 Division and Operation SAFE
HAVEN while conducting operation to recover arms from a gunrunners’
hideout at Sangasa Village in Fann District was attacked in the early hours of
10 July 2024.
“During the operation, a member of the team, an immigration officer, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, CL Agwom, was killed by the criminals.
Following the incident, troops conducted a follow-on operation in the district to recover illegal arms and ammunition and other dangerous weapons.
During the operations that lasted for one week, the team
arrested 7 suspects and recovered both automatic and locally fabricated weapons as well as different calibres of ammunition from Ratas, Ratoso and Sangasa Villages all in Fann District in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Specifically, the following weapons were recovered:
6 AK-47 rifles, 20 fabricated AK-47 rifles, 15 Dane guns, 5 AK-47 magazine, one AK-47 drum magazine having capacity of 75 rounds, 250 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special),
2 cartridges, one bow and eight arrows, 2 bottles of gunpowder and 7 motorcycles.
Also recovered during the operations were one complete pair of military woodland camouflage dress, one pair of military combat boot and two spears.
The huge recoveries of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons as well as military uniforms from Fann District in just one week
further affirms that the district is a criminal enclave.
Hence, the false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons are merely to divert attention from the large cache of weapons in the hands of unauthorized
persons in the district.
Let me, therefore, seize this opportunity to reiterate that
3 Division and Operation SAFE HAVEN will leave no stone unturned in its
quest to mop up illegal arms and ammunition within the Joint Operations Area
in line with its mandates.
We therefore urge the public to continue to collaborate and avail security agencies with credible information that will aid in securing law-abiding citizens in the Joint Operations Area.
Also, as part of efforts to arrest criminals complicit in criminal activities in Fann District and environs, the following persons are hereby declared wanted by security agencies:
- Mr Timothy Zakka Dung also known as Timaya.
- Mr Samn P
- Dachun Job
- Yakubu Ishaku
Any person with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted
suspects should kindly contact the closest security outpost.
Let me conclude this brief by acknowledging the courageous and brave efforts of Late Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Christopher Luka Agwom, who paid the supreme price during the operation to recover arms and
ammunition at Sangasa village on 10 July 2024.
The officer, a Jarawa by
tribe, who hails from Risek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, was very hardworking and reliable. He rose to become the Administrative Officer of Sector 4 Operation SAFE HAVEN through his
dedication and commitment to duty.
The death of the officer has left a vacuum not only to the young widow and 3 children he left behind but to the entire 3 Division and Operation SAFE HAVEN.
The late officer was laid to rest at Risek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 16, 2024.
Let me assure you that his sacrifice will not be in vain as we would not be deterred by false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons.
3 Division and Operation SAFE HAVEN remains resolute in its drive to rid the
entire Joint Operations Area of criminalities. Thank you.”
