Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have apprehended 39 suspected criminals for various offences ranging from banditry to kidnapping, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms as well as recovery of arms and hard drugs in the Joint Operation Area of Operation Hakorin Damisa IV.
The OPSH Media Information Officer, Captain Oya James, in a statement on Tuesday, said the operations were carried out in the last two weeks as the suspects were arrested at different locations within the Joint Operation Area of OPSH and Three Division Nigerian Army area of responsibility.
The statement added that two of the suspects had been on the wanted list for involvement in several armed robbery and kidnapping activities with troops recovering various kinds of firearms.
Among the suspects apprehended was a kidnapper who also deals in firearms as well as members of a militia gang identified to be among those involved in the Heipang village attack where about 13 persons were killed.
In addition, members of a drug syndicate were rounded up during a sting operation by the troops with a large cache of drugs seized from the drug peddlers.
No fewer than 307 cows were also apprehended for grazing on farmlands in villages of Mangu and Bokkos local government areas (LGAs).
The statement also commended early warning and distress calls that prompted an early response by OPSH, leading to the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims, foiling of cattle rustling, and repelling of attacks on vulnerable communities, especially in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs.
