Troops arrest suspected ISWAP members, neutralise bandits, recover arms
Operation Safe Haven troops, tasked with maintaining peace in Plateau, parts of Bauchi, and Kaduna states, have made significant gains, arresting two suspected Islamic State West Africa Province members and neutralising a bandit in separate Plateau State operations.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama on Saturday in Jos, that the operations were conducted between April 11 and 12.
He said the suspected ISWAP members, identified as Abdulkadir Dalhatu, 25, and Ubaidu Hassan, 25, were arrested on April 11 in the Yelwa axis of Shendam Local Government Area.
According to him, the suspects, who disguised as tailors, were apprehended by troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shendam during a sting operation.
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“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were instructed by an ISWAP commander to operate under the cover of tailoring to establish bases in Plateau and Bauchi States,” he said
He further disclosed that on the same day, troops of Sector 4 conducted a follow-up operation at the hideout of a wanted criminal in Mazat Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Although the suspect escaped before the troops arrived, a search of the hideout led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with registration number 23402 and a loaded magazine buried in the compound.
In a related development, on April 12, troops of Sector 2 laid an ambush against bandits along the Pinau-Bangalala Road in Wase Local Government Area, following credible intelligence.
The troops made contact with the bandits, neutralising one, while others fled with suspected gunshot injuries. One fabricated pistol was recovered at the scene.
The sources reaffirmed OPSH’s commitment to addressing all forms of insecurity in its areas of responsibility and called on members of the public to continue providing timely and actionable information to aid ongoing military operations.
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