The 3 Division of the Nigerian Army/Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) Operation Golden Peace has captured notorious kidnap kingpins and ammunition couriers, as well as recovered caches of ammunition in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Military Information Officer (MIO) of OPSH, Major Samson Zhakom, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the Headquarters of OPSH in Jos.
According to Zhakom, in continuation of robust efforts to ensure a secure harvest and peaceful yuletide celebration in the joint operations area, as directed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. O.O Oluyede, troops of 3 Division/OPSH quickly conducted an intelligence-based raid.
He said this took place at an unidentified criminal hideout at Rafiki General Area in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau, with positive outcomes, including the capture of notorious kidnap kingpins and the recovery of caches of ammunition on December 10, 2024.
During the operation, Zhakom said that security agencies succeeded in capturing the notorious criminals identified as Mohammed Musa, also known as Mamman, alongside his collaborator, Mallam Alhassan Samaila.
“A thorough search at the hideout of the kidnap kingpin led to the recovery of 439 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, carefully concealed in four 4-litre engine oil gallons.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects disguised as transporters to convey the cache of ammunition to bandits in Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara states.
READ ALSO:Blame Buhari for ‘Yorubanisation’ of Tinubu govt, Ozekhome tells Nigerians
“The arrested suspects are making useful confessions, while security agencies are currently conducting follow-on operations to capture other members of the criminal syndicate, as well as recover their arms and ammunition,” he pointed out.
The officer added that the 3 Division/OPSH is totally committed to ensuring the security of lives and property within the Joint Operations Area, in line with the operational mandates of Operation Golden Peace, with additional critical combat enablers recently deployed by the Chief of Defence Staff and COAS to further enhance operations, especially on the Plateau.
He, therefore, enjoined well-meaning members of the public to support security agencies with timely intelligence to aid in ridding the criminalities in the Joint Operation Areas.
The two paraded suspects, whose faces were covered, were marched back to where they were kept in the barracks of the Special Task Force (STF), OPSH.
In this article
Nigeria Army