Troops of the Joint Security Task Force Operation Safe Haven have arrested two suspected gunrunners and kidnappers in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The suspects, identified as Yahaya Adamu and Saeedu Haruna, were arrested during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted in collaboration with a security intelligence agency.
Adamu was apprehended on May 10 in Barakin Gangare.
His arrest led to a follow-up operation on May 11 in Marit Mazat, also in Barkin Ladi, where troops apprehended Haruna and recovered an AK-47, one AK-47 magazine, and an Itel mobile phone.
The spokesman of the Operation Safe Haven, Major Nantip Zhakom, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
He said the arrest followed a sting operation carried out in the early hours of Sunday, May 11, at the Marit Mazat in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
“The operation was sequel to the arrest of a gunrunner and kidnapper identified as Yahaya Adamu at Barakin Gangare in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State on 10 May 25. During the follow-up operations, troops arrested a notorious gunrunner/kidnapper, Saeedu Haruna, and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and one itel phone,” the statement read.
He stated further that a preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested suspects and their syndicate were responsible for most of the criminal activities along Gashish and Kurra Falls in Barkin Ladi as well as Gwantu and Fadan Karshe in the Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The arrested suspects, the statement added, were 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.
“The joint security task force applauds the unique cooperation of the populace in ensuring criminal hideouts are exposed to security agencies and encourages 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,” it added.