The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of Operation Safe Haven in conjunction with Plateau state Police Command arrested two notorious kidnappers, Abdulrazaq Umar and Idris Abdullahi, at Beco Junction Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state.
The military high command said the suspects confessed to have carried out several kidnapping activities within Plateau and Bauchi states including the murder of Alhaji Saleh Abdulhamid (Shaba) at Ex-Land Village on 22 Jun 22.
Director Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen Benard Onyeuko in a statement Tuesday night, said the suspects further revealed one Mallam Buhari Umar as the leader of the gang.
He however said while enroute the criminal’s hideout, suspects attempted to escape and were neutralized.
“Similarly, on 9 July 2022, troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted a raid Operation at Mailafia, Nisama, Dogon filli and Gidan waya all in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state and arrested 2 x armed robbers; Mr. George Yakubu and George Joseph aged 26 and 25 years respectively.
“Items recovered from the suspects includes; 3 x Fabricated AK 47 Riffles, 1 x Knife, 1 x Cutting Hoe, 1 x Cutter and 1 x Spanner amongst others. Also, on the same day, troops responded to a distress call that gunmen attacked a Toyota Hummer Bus with Registration Number LFA 322 YR Nasarawa at Dogon Filli village, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state. Troops mobilized to the scene and rescued 9 passengers who were held hostage.
“The military high command commends troops of Operation safe haven for their efforts and encourages the general public to avail troops with credible and timely information on criminal activities,” the statement added.