Troops arrest wanted gunrunners, recover arms in one week —Army
By Matthew Atungwu
The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN on Operation HAKORIN DAMISA IV, have arrested 34 suspects in connection with kidnapping, criminal attacks, cattle rustling, gunrunning, farm destruction, theft as well as recovered arms/ammunition and illicit drugs in the last one week
This was contained in a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu.
According to the statement, the troops arrested a suspected arms dealer and member of a criminal courier network, Zaharadeen Lukman also known as Dandini at Ashawuce village in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, adding that the suspect before his arrest had been declared wanted for arms dealing in Southern Kaduna general area.
Similarly, at Tagama checkpoint, Samaru in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, the troops arrested Mr Lawal Suleiman, a member of a gunrunning syndicate specialized in the illegal distribution of arms and ammunition to criminals in Southern Kaduna.
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Based on credible information, the troops also arrested a notorious gunrunner, Abdullahi Ibrahim Muhammed at Angwan Alede in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State and recovered 1 infinix Hot Note 9 mobile phone, 1 pistol, 1 pistol magazine loaded with 9mm rounds of ammunition, multiple ID cards which include vigilante group, Dangote Spaghetti and cement department staff ID, first aid group of JIBWIS ID card, 2 First Bank ATM cards and hard drugs.
The statement added that the troops also apprehended a suspected gunrunner, Gyang Yusuf at Rakung village in Barkin Ladi and recovered 39 rounds of 9mm special rounds and a sum of money.
According to the statement, thirty-four suspects—seven suspected kidnappers, four suspected gunrunners, three connected to village attacks, three livestock rustlers, and two suspected drug dealers—were taken into custody during the course of the week while 36 distress calls were swiftly answered, four attacks on communities that were considered vulnerable were foiled, and three victims were saved from kidnappers.
The Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General AE Abubakar appreciated the incredible contributions of the citizenry in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Bauchi States for the great cooperation overtime to rid the entire areas of criminal elements, adding that all arrested suspects in custody would be charged to court once investigations were concluded.
