By OBSERVERS TIMES
Troops of 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN, supported by an intelligence agency, have apprehended two notorious gunrunners during an intelligence-led operation in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State. The operation, conducted in the early hours of May 11, 2025, at Marit Mazat, followed the arrest of a gunrunner and kidnapper, Mr. Yahaya Adamu, the previous day at Barakin Gangare in the same LGA.
During the follow-up operation, the troops successfully arrested Mr. Saeedu Haruna, identified as another notorious gunrunner and kidnapper. Authorities also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and one ITEL mobile phone.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested suspects and their network are responsible for a significant portion of the criminal activities plaguing the Gashish and Kurra Falls areas within Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, as well as Gwantu and Fadan Karshe in Sanga LGA of neighboring Kaduna State.
The arrested individuals are reportedly providing valuable information to the authorities, and troops are actively pursuing other members of the criminal syndicate to apprehend them and recover additional weapons.
Operation SAFE HAVEN commended the public for their crucial cooperation in identifying criminal hideouts for security agencies. The operation urged residents to continue providing credible information to aid troops in their efforts to neutralize non-state actors and safeguard lives and property within the Joint Operations Area.
Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, Media Information Officer for Operation SAFE HAVEN, confirmed the arrests and weapon recovery in a press statement.