Troops recover 39 guns in Plateau villages, declare 4 suspects wanted
Troops of Operation Safe Haven, have recovered 39 guns, several ammunition and other weapons from criminal hideouts in Ratas, Ratoso, and Sangasa villages in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Four people linked to criminal activities in the area were declared wanted.
“During the operations, a member of the team, an immigration officer, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration CL Agwom, was killed by the criminals,” Major SN Zhakom, Military Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, told newsmen in Jos on Thursday.
“Following the incident, troops conducted follow-on operation in the district to recover illegal arms and ammunition and other dangerous weapons in line with the core mandate of the operation.
“During the operations that lasted for one week, the team arrested 8 suspects and recovered both automatic and locally fabricated weapons as well as different calibres of ammunition from Ratas, Ratoso and Sangasa Villages all in Fann District in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.”
He listed the weapons recovered to include 12 AK-47 rifles, 11 fabricated AK-47 rifles, 15 Dane guns, 15 AK-47 magazine, one AK-47 drum magazine having capacity of 75 rounds, 250 rounds of 7.62 mm Special, two cartridges, two bottles of gunpowder, one sword, a complete pair of military woodland camouflage dress, a pair of military combat boot, two spears, a bow and eight arrows, as well as seven motorcycles.
“The huge recoveries of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons as well as military uniforms from Fann District in just one week further affirms that the district is a criminal enclave. Hence, the false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons are merely to divert attention from the large cache of weapons in the hands of unauthorized persons in the district,” Zhakom said.
He reiterated that the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army that is coordinating Operation Safe Haven, “will leave no stone unturned in its quest to mop up illegal arms and ammunition within the Joint Operations Area in line with its mandate”.
Zhakom urged the public to continue to collaborate and avail security agencies with credible information that will aid in securing law-abiding citizens in the joint operations area.
He gave the names of those declared wanted as, Timothy Zakka Dung, also known as Timaya, Sam P, Dachun Job, and Yakubu Ishaku.
According to him, the four persons are
“complicit in criminal activities in Fann District and environs.
“Any person with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects should kindly contact the closest security outpost”.
He paid glowing tribute to the officer killed during the operations.
“Let me conclude this brief by acknowledging the courageous and brave efforts of Late Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Christopher Luka Agwom, who paid the supreme price during the operation to recover arms and ammunition at Sangasa Village on 10 July 2024. The officer, a Jarawa by tribe, who hails from Risek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, was very hardworking and reliable.
“He rose to become the Administrative Officer of Sector 4 Operation Safe Haven through his dedication and commitment to duty. The death of the officer has left a vacuum not only to the young widow and 3 children he left behind but to the entire 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven. The late officer was laid to rest at Rizek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday 16th July 2024.
“Let me assure you that his sacrifice will not be in vain as we would not be deterred by false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons. 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven remain resolute in its drive to rid the entire Joint Operations Area of criminalities.”