Troops neutralise bandits, arrest notorious armed robbers, kidnappers; recover weapons

Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in conjunction with Plateau State Police Command, have arrested two notorious kidnappers at the Beco Junction Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The suspects, Abdulrazaq Umar and Idris Abdullahi, confessed to have carried out several kidnapping activities within Plateau and Bauchi States including the murder of Alhaji Saleh Abdulhamid (Shaba) at Ex Land Village on Jun22.

The suspects further revealed that one Mallam Buhari Umar is the leader of the gang.

In sustained efforts at maintaining their mandate and ensure a hitch free and peaceful Sallah celebration the troops conducted a raid at the criminals’ hideouts in the area.

The Director of Defence Media Operations Defence Headquarters, Major General Bernard Onyeuko, said in a statement, that “while enroute the criminals hideout, suspects attempted to escape and were neutralised.

“Similarly, on 9 July 2022, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted a raid Operation at MAILAFIA, NISAMA, DOGON FILLI and GIDAN WAYA all in JEMA’A Local Government Area of Kaduna State and arrested 2 x Armed Robbers; Mr George Yakubu and George Joseph aged 26 and 25 years respectively. Items recovered from the suspects includes; 3 Fabricated AK 47 Riffles, 1 Knife, 1 Cutting Hoe, 1 Cutter and 1 Spanner amongst others. Also, on the same day, troops responded to a distress call that gunmen attacked a Toyota Hummer Bus with Registration Number LFA 322 YR Nasarawa at DOGON FILLI village, JEMA’A Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Troops mobilized to the scene and rescued 9 passengers who were held hostage”.

He said the military high command commends the troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN for their efforts.