Troops arrest eight suspected gunrunners in Plateau, recover weapons
Army
Troops arrest eight suspected gunrunners in Plateau, recover weapons
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerian Army’s Operation Safe Haven has arrested eight suspected gunrunners in Plateau State, recovered various weapons and named four individuals as wanted in connection with the gunrunning and criminal activities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The troops according to a statement on Thursday by the Military Information Officer
Operation SAFE HAVEN, SN Zhakom Major, conducted an operation in the Sangasa village area, where they apprehended the suspects and seized their firearms.
The operation,it stated, was is part of ongoing efforts by Nigerian security forces to crack down on arms trafficking and criminal networks operating in the region.
The statement reads in part, “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 in line with the core mandate of the operation. During the operations that lasted for one week, the team arrested 8 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.”
The ammunition recovered by the operative according to the statement were, Twelve AK-47 rifles, twelve fabricated AK-47 rifles, fifteen dane guns, fifteen AK-47 magazines, one AK-47 drum magazine having capacity of 75 rounds, two hundred and fifty rounds of 7.62 mm (Special), two cartridges, two bottles of gunpowder, one sword, one complete pair of military woodland camouflage dress, one pair of military combat boot, two spears, one bow and eight arrows, and seven motorcycles.
However, it was stated in the release that all the ammunition and other dangerous weapons including military uniforms were recovered in one week, affirming that the community is a criminal enclave.
“Hence, the false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons is 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/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 mandate. 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,” the statement reads further.
On the other hand, the security agencies have declared the following persons as wanted, as part of their efforts to apprehend individuals complicit in criminal activities in Fann District and the surrounding areas; Timothy Zakka Dung also known as Timaya, Sam P, Dachun Job and 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/Operation SAFE HAVEN. The late officer was laid to rest at Rizek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday 16 Jul 24. Let me assure you that his sacrifice will not be in vain as we will not be deterred by false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons. 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN remain resolute in its drive to rid the entire Joint Operations Area of criminalities,” the statement enunciates.
