Troops of Operation Safe Haven have arrested five notorious gunrunners and seized a cache of arms and ammunition during an intelligence-driven operation in Plateau State.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Military Public Information Officer for Operation Safe Haven, Major Stephen Zhakom, confirmed that the operation was part of efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms in the Joint Operations Area.
The operation, which took place between the night of September 16 and the early hours of September 17, 2024, involved a raid on the hideout of a suspected gunrunner, Mohammed Sani, at the Naraguta Mining Area in Bayameni, along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area. Sani and four others were apprehended.
Recovered items included two AK-47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale automatic rifle, 14 AK-47 magazines, one Fabrique Nationale magazine, 5,316 rounds of 7.62 MM (Special), 98 rounds of 7.62 MM (NATO), and 43 rounds of 9 MM ammunition.
Zhakom noted that the suspects are currently being interrogated to provide further intelligence to help dismantle the gun-running syndicate.