As part of ongoing efforts to secure the harvest season and ensure a peaceful yuletide with Joint Operation Area, troops of 3 Division/ Operation Safe Haven, acting under the Directive of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen OO Oluyede NAM, executed a targeted raid on identified criminal hideouts in Rafiki General Area of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State. The Operation, conducted on December 10, 2024, achieved a a remarkable success with the arrest of the notorious kidnap kingpins and recovered a significant ammunition cache.

In a statement by the Military Information Officer Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom says, During the Operation, security forces apprehended some key suspects. A thorough search of their hideout uncovered 439 rounds of ammunition, cleverly concealed in a 4-liter engine oil container, preliminary Investigations revealed that the suspects posed as transporters to secretly deliver ammunition to bandits operating in Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara.

The arrested suspects are cooperating with authorities and providing valuable information.

Follow-up operations are underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate and recover another additional weapons and ammunition.

3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN remains fully committed to safeguarding lives and property within the Joint Operations Area.

The dedication align with the objectives of Operation GOLDEN PEACE, bolstered by the deployment of critical combat enablers recently provided by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and COAS to enhance operational effectiveness, particularly in Plateau State.