Barely 72 hours after 5 notorious gunrunners leading to the recovery of automatic weapons and about 6,000 rounds of assorted ammunition at Bayameni along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on September 17, 2024.
A statement by Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, the Operation SAVE HAVEN Public Information Officer explained:
“Operation SAVE HAVEN (OPSH) conducted follow on operations in Bokkos Town, Bokkos Local Government Area 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 Five Million Million Naira (N5,000,000:00) at Banana Island Hotel in Bokkos”
“Consequently, 2 notorious gunrunners identified as Matawal Bitrus and Thomas Benedict were apprehended and the following automatic weapons recovered.
-Two AK-47 Rifles
-One Automatic Pistol
-Two AK-47 Magazines
-One Baretta Pistol Magazine.
“The suspects have been taken to custody for interrogation with a view to extracting information in order to arrest other members of the gunrunning syndicate on the run.
“The latest arrest of gunrunners and recovery of arms and ammunition from both Jos North and Bokkos Local Government Areas confirms the assertion that criminality is not defined by ethno-religious boundary.
“Criminality is a common enemy that we must jointly tackle to afford law-abiding citizens the freedom to carry out the socio-economic endeavors without fear.
“While it has been proven that the proliferation of arms is a major driver of security threats, Operation SAFE HAVEN is ever ready to in conjunction with other security agencies to clampdown on individuals carrying out this illegal act.
“The good people of Plateau, Bauchi and Southern Kaduna are please enjoined to continue furnishing security agencies with credible information towards arresting criminal elements in order to ensure crime-free environment”.
-9News Nigeria.
