In a significant breakthrough in the fight against illegal arms trafficking, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, operating under the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, have successfully apprehended five notorious gunrunners and seized a substantial cache of arms and ammunition in Plateau State. The operation, which was driven by intelligence, forms part of the military’s ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons in the Joint Operations Area.
The suspects were paraded before the press on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the Headquarters of Operation SAFE HAVEN in Jos.
Major Stephen Nantip Zhakom, the Military Public Information Officer for Operation SAFE HAVEN, addressed the media during the event. He confirmed the arrests and reiterated the military’s unwavering commitment to restoring peace and security in the region through aggressive measures against illegal arms dealers.
Details of the operation revealed that the military acted on credible intelligence, conducting a well-coordinated raid from the midnight of September 16 to the early hours of September 17, 2024. The operation specifically targeted a notorious gunrunning syndicate operating out of the Naraguta Mining Area in Bayameni, along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area. Among the suspects arrested was the key figure in the syndicate, Mohammed Sani, along with four other accomplices.
The military’s success in the raid is marked by the recovery of a significant amount of weaponry, including:
- Two AK-47 rifles
- One Fabrique Nationale automatic rifle
- Fourteen AK-47 magazines
- One Fabrique Nationale magazine
- 5,316 rounds of 7.62 MM (Special) ammunition
- Ninety-eight rounds of 7.62 MM (NATO) ammunition
- Forty-three rounds of 9 MM ammunition
The suspects are currently undergoing thorough interrogation as security operatives work to extract vital intelligence. It is expected that this information will lead to the identification and dismantling of the entire gunrunning network and the arrest of other individuals connected to the illegal arms trade.
Speaking further on the operation, Major Zhakom emphasized the importance of ongoing military efforts to rid Plateau State and its environs of illegal arms. He assured the public that Operation SAFE HAVEN will continue to intensify its activities to ensure that peace and stability are restored to the region, and that no space is given for the proliferation of illegal arms that fuel violence.
The recovery of these weapons marks another milestone in the military’s campaign to restore order in Plateau State, which has been troubled by recurring violence in recent years, often fueled by illegal arms smuggled into the area. The success of the intelligence-led operation is a strong statement of the military’s resolve to protect the region and its people from the dangers posed by illegal arms.
Major Zhakom called for continued cooperation from the public in providing timely and actionable information that can assist security agencies in tackling criminal activities across the region.
This is so bad information from our brothers.And please let the military personnel continue working on such kind of troops.
And why is that the face of the boys was covered and the face of the lady was opened?