From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin and Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Operatives of the 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven, have arrested a notorious gunrunner and kidnapper, identified as Mr Saeedu Haruna. The troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine and one ITEL phone.
A statement by the Media Officer, Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, said the operation supported by an Intelligence Agency was carried out in the early hours of yesterday, at Marit Mazat in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.
He said that the operation was sequel to the arrest of a gunrunner and kidnapper identified as Mr Yahaya Adamu at Barakin Gangare in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, the previous day.
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested suspects and their syndicates are responsible for most of the criminal activities along Gashish and Kurra Falls in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, also in Gwantu and Fadan Karshe in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
He said: “The arrested suspects are making useful confessions in custody, while efforts are ongoing by troops to track and arrest other members of the criminal syndicate, as well as recover their weapons.
“Operation SAFE HAVEN lauds the unique cooperation of the populace in ensuring criminal hideouts are exposed to security agencies. We encourage that more credible information should be provided to troops as they strive to hunt down non-state actors, while also protecting lives and property within the Joint Operations Area.”
In another development, no fewer than 12 persons were arrested by men of the Army for acts of terrorism carried out by a breakaway group of the Boko Haram insurgents known as Mahmuda which reportedly occupied the Kanji Lake National Park.
The group had before now allegedly maimed, exploited, terrorised and took advantage of residents of neighbouring border communities in the Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas of Kwara and Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu, who recently visited the camps in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of Kwara state disclosed this on Saturday during a visit to have first hand information about how the officers and men are faring as well as get updates on the operation disclosed this on Saturday.
According to the GOC, the twelve suspects arrested were picked up by the military at various locations in its raid of the Kainji Lake National Park and the border communities.
Two of those arrested were said to be confirmed members of the armed bandit group while others are accomplices in the criminal act, he said.
“The counter insurgency operation code named ‘Park strike four’ is meant to, among other things, flush out the bandits and clear the Kainji lake national park of all criminal tendencies”, he added.
The GOC disclosed to journalists in his team that the men and officers deployed for the operation are not resting on their oars to restore sanity at the park and raise the hope of the people around the area.
“Through the raid operation, the troops have successfully combed a distance of at least 90 kilometres from Kemanji into the Kanji forest where its firm base is currently situated.
During his trip, the GOC who said the mission is already being accomplished added that “both the men and officers have succeeded in dislodging the bandits and other criminal elements.”
After interacting with the troops, Gen Onubogu also visited the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Sheu Omar and the Head of Kemanji Community known as Shao’ki, Aliyu Siki-Muhammed where he raised the hope of the locals, boosted their morale and restored their confidence.
The COAS had given the troops one month’s matching order to flush out the bandits.
The 2 Division of the Nigerian Army following the orders of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede has since deployed troops to comb the border communities in Kwara and Niger States as well as the Kanji lake forest for the wanted elements taking arms against innocent citizens of Nigeria.