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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Troops of Operation Safe Haven, tasked with maintaining peace in Kaduna and Plateau states, have reported killing three bandits and rescuing several kidnapped persons in operations conducted between January 24 and March 26.
The Media Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, said in a statement that these operational achievements include the arrest of criminals, recovery of arms and ammunition, and rescue of kidnapped victims, among other notable successes.
He said the bandits/kidnappers were killed at Bashar Town in Wase Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State and were found in possession of one fabricated rifle and a sum of One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Naira (N138,000.00), suspected to be ransom money.
Zhakom said that on 18 February 2025, troops captured a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Ali Yakubu, aka Yellow Million, at Ndoha Takasa in Jaba LGA of Kaduna State. He noted that the suspect was on the watchlist of security agencies for kidnapping and other criminal activities in Godogodo and Bede in Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State.
Other successes, according to him, include an operation on 24 January 2025, when troops conducted a rescue mission at Nding in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State and rescued a kidnapped victim, Mr. Sefianu Yusuf. Troops also recovered the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000.00), which was ransom money paid to the kidnappers.
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“On 25 January 2025, troops intercepted a notorious armed robber, Mr. Mapak Mangud, mounted on a motorcycle at Kassa Community in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. The suspect was arrested in possession of a fabricated pistol and two cartridges concealed in a bag.
“On 29 January 2025, troops rescued a kidnapped victim, Mrs. Umbuke Yakubu, at the outskirts of Rantya in Jos South LGA of Plateau State. The victim had been kidnapped from her residence in Rantya, Jos South LGA, the previous day,” he added.
Apart from other successes within the period, Zhakom said troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) under the ongoing Operation Lafiyan Jama’a have continued to dominate the OPSH Area of Responsibility (AOR) with intensive operations aimed at frustrating the activities of criminal elements and denying them freedom of action within the area.
He said that in the latest operational breakthrough, on 16 March 2025, troops of OPSH raided a hideout belonging to suspected kidnappers/gunrunners at Ungwan Mallam village in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
The operation was conducted based on credible information that kidnappers were hibernating in the area.
During the operation, he said, the criminals fled before the troops arrived at the hideout. However, the troops combed the area and recovered two fabricated AK-47 rifles, two Dane guns, and 14 cartridges. The recovered arms and ammunition are in custody, while efforts are underway to arrest the fleeing criminals.
