In a decisive and intelligence-led operation, the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division, in collaboration with Operation SAFE HAVEN, successfully apprehended five notorious gunrunners and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition in Plateau State. The arrest underscores the military’s commitment to curbing the proliferation of illegal weapons in the country.
The meticulously planned operation, which spanned from midnight on September 16 to the early hours of September 17, 2024, targeted the hideout of a notorious gunrunner identified as Mohammed Sani. The raid took place in the Naraguta Mining Area in Bayameni along Bauchi Road, located in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The operation culminated in the arrest of Mohammed Sani along with four other accomplices.
The raid, driven by precise intelligence, yielded a haul of dangerous weapons and ammunition, further indicating the extent of the gunrunning syndicate’s activities in the region. The recovered items included:
Two AK-47 rifles
One Fabrique Nationale automatic rifle
Fourteen AK-47 magazines
One Fabrique Nationale magazine
5,316 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition
Ninety-eight rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition
Forty-three rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The suspects are currently undergoing intense interrogation, with the military working diligently to extract further intelligence that may lead to the dismantling of the entire gunrunning network. This operation forms part of a broader mandate under Operation SAFE HAVEN to mop up illegal arms and disrupt criminal activities threatening peace and security in Plateau State and its environs.
Major Stephen Nantip Zhakom, the Military Public Information Officer for Operation SAFE HAVEN, emphasized the unwavering resolve of the Nigerian Army to rid the region of illegal arms dealers. “This success is a significant step in neutralizing the threat posed by illegal arms to the peace and security of Plateau State. We will continue to intensify our efforts until the supply chains of these weapons are completely destroyed,” he stated.
This arrest serves as a stern warning to other criminal elements across the country that the Nigerian Army will leave no stone unturned in restoring peace and stability.
PIONEER NEWS 