Troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army, operating under Operation SAFE HAVEN, have arrested five notorious gunrunners and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in Plateau State.
Confirming the report,Major Stephen Nantip Zhakom, the Military Public Information Officer for Operation SAFE HAVEN said the arrests were made during an intelligence-driven operation aimed at curbing the illegal arms trade in the region.
He said the operation, which began at midnight on September 16, 2024, and continued into the early hours of September 17, targeted a hideout in the Naraguta Mining Area, Bayameni, along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area. The key suspect, Mohammed Sani, was apprehended alongside four other individuals.
The troops recovered a significant arsenal during the raid, including:
- Two AK-47 rifles
- One Fabrique Nationale automatic rifle
- Fourteen AK-47 magazines
- One Fabrique Nationale magazine
- 5,316 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition
- 98 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition
- 43 rounds of 9mm ammunition
The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation, and authorities are hopeful that the intelligence gathered will lead to the dismantling of the larger gunrunning syndicate.
Zhakom pledged continued efforts to stem the flow of illegal arms in the region.
