In a week-long operation, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) conducted Operation HAKORIN DAMISA IV, resulting in the neutralization of seven bandits, the recovery of arms and ammunition, and the arrest of 33 suspects involved in various criminal activities, including kidnapping, murder, arms dealing, criminal attacks, railway vandalism, cattle rustling, and farm destruction.
Between November 13 and November 20, 2023, OPSH troops executed several commendable operations. Acting on intelligence, on November 13, 2023, Mr. Suleiman Mohammed was apprehended in Bakin Kogi area, Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, with an AK 47 rifle and a mobile phone. On the same day, five suspects were arrested in connection with a criminal attack on Mr. Sati Pewat’s farm in Tileng Paat village, Mangu LGA, Plateau State.
On November 14, 2023, a raid operation in Tileng Paat village, Pushit district of Mangu LGA, led to the arrest of Umurana Adamu in possession of an AK 47 rifle, one magazine, and 9 rounds of 7.62mm special. Additionally, a suspected arms dealer, Mr. Rufai Abdullahi, was arrested at Kamuru area in Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State. In a separate incident on the same day, troops engaged bandits at Kachallah high-ground, neutralizing six and recovering arms and ammunition.
Continuing their operations on November 14, 2023, troops neutralized a suspected bandit, Musa Wada, during a search operation at Kondo village. Furthermore, timely response to information on a planned attack by suspected militias in Tileng Paat village averted the incident. Additionally, a raid on kidnappers’ hideout at Biji Biji village in Hawul resulted in the arrest of Dahiru Ibrahim, who was in possession of an AK 47 rifle, one magazine, and 3 rounds of 7.62mm special.
On November 15, 2023, OPSH Tactical Team, in collaboration with the Department of State Services, apprehended two notorious arms dealers, Abdullahi Ali and Ibrahim Hussaini, en route to Zamfara State. The arrest yielded the recovery of 504 rounds of 7.62mm special, 100 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, and 3 Rocket Propelled Gun charges and accessories. Other items recovered included three mobile phones, a Ford Galaxy (Sharon vehicle), and a Zenith bank ATM card.
Troops on routine patrol on the same day arrested three suspected impostors, Mohammed Abdullahi Bazambade, Musa Mairali, and Umar Mohammed, wearing military camouflage at Mansuldal Guest Inn. They were found in possession of fake USD1300 US Dollars notes and military camouflage uniforms. Similarly, at New Market Jos, Sector 1 troops responding to a distress call arrested Awalu Ibrahim of Rikkoks with a bag containing 19 green military camouflage uniforms.
On November 18, 2023, at Makera checkpoint in Riyom LGA of Plateau State, troops arrested four rail line vandals – Cosmos Eze, Abdullah Saidu, David Boyi, and Dashe Peter Daniel – in possession of 30 vandalized railway sleepers. On the same day, a wanted criminal, Lukman Aminu, was arrested at Tafawa village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Further operations on November 19, 2023, led to the arrest of Gyang Yohanna and Agwom Gyang Zi at Zot Foron village in Barkin Ladi LGA with one AK 47 rifle and one empty magazine. Additionally, OPSH Tactical Team, in a joint operation with DSS, arrested notorious arms dealers Thomas Pam A.K.A Oga and Yakubu Gyang at Mangu LGA, Plateau State, recovering 101 rounds of 5.56mm (Tavor), 2 mobile phones, and a black Mercedes Benz 190.
In total, 33 suspects were arrested for various crimes, including kidnapping, arms dealing, murder, railway vandalism, and farm destruction. Seven bandits were neutralized, 15 kidnapped victims were rescued, three attacks on vulnerable communities were deterred, and eight distress calls were promptly responded to.
Major General AE Abubakar, Commander of Operation SAFE HAVEN, reiterated the commitment of OPSH and other security agencies to protecting law-abiding citizens in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Bauchi States through all legitimate means. He commended the public for their continued support and assured them of the swift dispensation of justice once investigations of suspects in OPSH custody are concluded.
