Troops of Operation Safe Haven who are maintaining peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states have arrested two suspected gunrunners in Bakkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The latest arrest came barely 72 hours after the operation arrested five suspected gunrunners and recovered automatic weapons and about 6,000 rounds of assorted ammunition at Bayameni, along Buchi road of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
Parading the suspects at the OPSH’s headquarters in Jos, the spokesperson of the operation, Major Samson Zhakom, said the suspects were arrested following an intelligence report received by the operation.
Narrating how they were arrested, Major Zhakom said: “Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted an operation in Bokkos Town, Bokkos LGA of Plateau State on 18 September 2024. During the intelligence-based sting operations, security agencies busted another criminal syndicate while finalizing transactions for sales of arms and ammunition amounting to N5,000,000.00 at Banana Island Hotel in Bokkos.
“Consequently, two notorious gunrunners identified as Matawal Bitrus and Thomas Benedict were apprehended and recovered automatic weapons including two AK-47 Rifles, one Automatic Pistol, two AK-47 magazines, one Baretta Pistol Magazine,“ he said.
Major Zhakom added that the suspects have been taken into custody for interrogation with a view to extracting further information on their activities.
The command further reiterated that: “The latest arrest of gunrunners and recovery of arms and ammunition from both Jos North and Bokkos LGAs confirm the assertion that criminality is not defined by any ethno-religious boundary.
“Criminality is a common enemy that we must jointly tackle to afford law-abiding citizens the freedom to carry out their socio-economic endeavours without fear.
“While it has been proven that the proliferation of firearms is a major driver of security threats, Operation SAFE HAVEN is ever ready in conjunction with other security agencies to clamp down on individuals carrying out this illegal act, “ he added.
The operation therefore called on people of Plateau, Bauchi and Southern Kaduna to cooperate with security agencies towards arresting criminal elements in order to ensure a crime-free environment.
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