Troops of the 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven, Nigerian Army, have arrested two notorious gunrunners in Plateau state.
In a statement on Sunday in Jos, spokesperson of for Operation Safety Haven, Samson Zhakom identified the suspects as Yahaya Adamu and Saeedu Haruna.
He said the operation leading to their arrest was conducted between May 10-11, 2025, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Zhakom said the suspects were found with one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and one ITEL phone.
He added that the arrests were made possible through an intelligence-based operation, which revealed that the suspects and their syndicate were responsible for most of the criminal activities in areas such as Gashish and Kurra Falls in Plateau State, and Gwantu and Fadan Karshe in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
Zhakom said the suspects are currently in custody making useful confessions.
The statement added that troops are working to track down and arrest other members of the syndicate, as well as recover their weapons.
“Troops of 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN supported by an Intelligence Agency conducted an intelligence-based operation in the early hours of 11 May 2025, at Marit Mazat in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State”, the statement reads.
“The operation was sequel to the arrest of a gunrunner and kidnapper identified as Mr Yahaya Adamu at Barakin Gangare in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State on 10 May 25.
“During the follow-up operations, troops arrested a notorious gunrunner/kidnapper, Mr Saeedu Haruna and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine and one ITEL phone.”
The statement also commended members of the public for their cooperation in exposing criminal hideouts and encouraged citizens to continue providing credible information to aid in their efforts
“Operation SAFE HAVEN lauds the unique cooperation of the populace in ensuring criminal hideouts are exposed to security agencies.
“We, encourage that more credible information should be provided to own troops as they strive to hunt down non-state actors, while also protecting lives and property within the Joint Operations Area”, the statement said.
