Army kills bandits, rescues 18 kidnapped victims in Plateau, Taraba

In a series of successful operations across the Joint Operations Area (JOA), the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) headquartered in Jos, Plateau State has rescued 18 kidnapped victims and arrested key criminal figures.

Samson Zakhom, a major and spokesperson of OPSH, who stated this while parading the criminals on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State Capital, said the operations conducted over the past two months, targeted bandits and criminal hideouts around the borders of Plateau and Taraba States, particularly in the Bangalala and Kinishi Forests of Wase and Karim Lamido LGAs, resulting in major security gains.

Zakhom said the Military’s offensive operations led to the neutralization (killing) of several bandits and the dismantling of their life support structures.

“These efforts have directly resulted in the release of 18 kidnapped victims, including elderly individuals such as Saidu Ibrahim (68) and Muhammadu Bello (75), who were abducted from various localities in Plateau and Taraba States. The freed victims have been reunited with their families following proper profiling and documentation by relevant authorities.

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“In a separate development, on December 23, 2024, troops captured five bandits at a hideout in Tarangol, Bokkos LGA, seizing fabricated rifles, ammunition, and daggers. The following week, additional bandits were apprehended in Mangu LGA while attempting to cause chaos. All captured suspects are in custody, with some already providing useful confessions to aid further investigations”, he said.

The spokesperson added that the operations continued into late December, with the arrest of notorious criminal figures.

“On December 27, 2024, Musa Abubakar, also known as Haburuwa, a well-known kidnap kingpin, was captured in Bassa LGA. He confessed to orchestrating numerous kidnappings in the region. The following day, gunrunner Mosaje, who supplied weapons to criminal syndicates, was arrested in Kanam LGA, with authorities working to track down his collaborators.

“As the new year began, 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven’s efforts intensified, with multiple arrests and foiled criminal activities. On January 1, 2025, troops apprehended members of a gunrunning syndicate in Bokkos LGA, recovering firearms and ammunition. On January 3, 2025, troops in Sanga LGA foiled a kidnapping attempt, capturing four suspects and recovering a Dane gun. These operations underscore the military’s continued commitment to maintaining security”; Zakhom added.

Zakhom noted that despite these significant successes, 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven will continue its aggressive operations to neutralize remaining criminal elements in the area.

He said the security agencies remain dedicated to ensuring the safety of citizens, urging the public to provide timely intelligence to further strengthen efforts in securing the JOA.