By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Commander Special Military Task Force, code named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar in his quest to end hostilities in the troubled areas of Southern Kaduna and Plateau State, on Monday led troops to apprehend armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits and gunrunners.
Gen. Abubakar who also doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army, said troops under his command will do all within its rules of engagement to rid the general areas under its control of hoodlums and bad elements.
The Army boss who stated this in a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Task Force, Captain James Oya, said while the raid in Southern Kaduna recorded successes of arresting gunrunners, bandits and armed robbers, the operation in Plateau State also recorded another victory over rescue of kidnapped victims.
According to Oya: “Troops on Operation HAKORIN DAMISA IV have neutralised 2 armed robbers in Amere-Ududu of Tudun Wada village in Southern Kaduna and also arrested 62 suspects in connection with armed banditry, gunrunning, kidnapping, armed robbery and other heinous crimes, whilst recovering 4 locally fabricated rifles, 2 Dane guns, 21 rounds of 7.62mm special, 13 rounds of 9mm, 11 cartridges, 6 AK 47 magazines, 1 pistol magazine, 2 cutlasses, 1 knife, 4 mobile phones, 2 vehicles as well as 2 trailers conveying vandalized railway slippers from the arrested suspects.
“The troops have also recovered 43 rustled cows and 17 sheep while a total number of 426 cows were recovered for grazing on farmlands belonging to locals across Operation Safe Haven joint operation area, and were handed over to local authorities in the local governments for settlement in liaison with the State Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice.
“Furthermore, troops also rescued 3 kidnapped victims namely Dr. Bitrus Kim, Mr Ishaya Atang Yohanna and Mallam Jibril Ibrahim who were among those earlier kidnapped in Barkin Ladi area of Plateau State”, the statement reads in parts.
