By: Zagazola Makama
In a decisive operation, troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have neutralized a notorious militia leader and kidnapper, Hamisu Saleh, infamously known as “Master,” in a high-stakes raid in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sources familiar with the operation disclosed to Zagazola Makama that the mission, executed on February 11, 2025, was part of intensified efforts to eradicate criminal strongholds in the region.
Saleh had been arrested in December 2024 for his role in orchestrating deadly attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes in Barkin Ladi. However, despite his arrest, the 25-year-old criminal mastermind resurfaced on December 11, 2024, rekindling his reign of terror.
Following weeks of meticulous intelligence gathering, Saleh was found to have confessed to multiple kidnappings and revealed crucial details about concealed weapon caches used for his syndicate’s operations. Armed with this intelligence, a tactical team of OPSH operatives launched a precision raid in Ropp, Barkin Ladi LGA, at approximately 20:47 hours on February 11, 2025.
The mission aimed to dismantle the remaining criminal network and retrieve hidden arms. However, in a desperate bid to outsmart the troops, Saleh attempted to mislead them with false information regarding the hideouts. In a final act of defiance, he made a violent move to snatch a soldier’s weapon—forcing the operatives to respond swiftly, neutralizing him on the spot.
A thorough search of the area did not yield additional weapons, but security forces reaffirmed their commitment to relentless offensive operations to apprehend Saleh’s accomplices and sanitize the region.
With this latest breakthrough, Operation Safe Haven continues to tighten its grip on criminal elements in Plateau State, ensuring that no safe haven exists for terror merchants.
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