By: Zagazola Makama
In a series of high-stakes operations that underscore Nigeria’s unwavering fight against terrorism and armed banditry, troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have dealt a significant blow to insurgents and criminal elements operating in Plateau State.
On April 11, 2025, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shendam executed a precision sting operation in the Yelwa axis of Shendam Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two suspected members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). The suspects, identified as Abdulkadir Dalhatu and Ubaidu Hassan, both aged 25, had been covertly operating under the guise of local tailors.
Intelligence sources revealed to Zagazola Makama that the duo had been embedded in the community to lay the groundwork for the establishment of ISWAP sleeper cells across Plateau and Bauchi States. Acting on credible human and signals intelligence, the troops swooped in and apprehended the suspects before they could expand their network. Preliminary investigations indicate they were working on direct orders from a senior ISWAP commander.
“The suspects used tailoring as a cover to mask their true mission — to build logistical and operational bases for ISWAP activities,” one source disclosed. The two are currently undergoing further interrogation and debriefing by military intelligence units.
That same day, OPSH troops from Sector 4 launched a follow-up raid on a known criminal hideout in Mazat Village, Barkin Ladi LGA. Though the targeted suspect narrowly escaped prior to the troops’ arrival, a thorough sweep of the location uncovered an AK-47 rifle (registration number 23402) and a fully loaded magazine, both buried beneath the floor of the building. The cache has been secured, and a manhunt for the fugitive is actively underway.
The momentum continued into April 12, when troops of Sector 2 OPSH, acting on actionable intelligence, staged a daring ambush along the Pinau-Bangalala Road in Wase Local Government Area. The troops intercepted a band of armed criminals, resulting in a fierce but brief gun battle. One bandit was instantly neutralized, while several others fled the scene, likely with gunshot wounds. A locally fabricated pistol was recovered during the exploitation phase that followed the operation.
These successive victories form part of a larger campaign by Operation Safe Haven to uproot insurgent networks, disrupt bandit logistics, and restore peace to restive communities across Nigeria’s North Central region.
A military spokesperson commended the gallantry of the troops, reaffirming that OPSH remains committed to flushing out criminals and safeguarding civilian lives and property.
“Operations like these send a clear message — terrorists and their enablers will find no safe haven in Plateau or anywhere else in Nigeria,” the spokesperson stated.
As the military continues to tighten its grip on hostile elements, communities are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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