From Emmanuel Akar, Gboko
After the Defence Headquarters confirmed the killing of Terwase Akwaza, alias ‘Gana’ tagged the ‘most wanted criminal’ in Benue State, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said in Abuja that 40 members of his gang were also captured with large cache of arms and ammunition.
Aside the operation which he said was carried out on 8th September, “on 5 September 2020, troops of Operation Safe Haven also raided hideouts of suspected Sara Suka criminals at Yantifa, New Market, Terminus and Bauchi road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State”.
He said the troops apprehended 20 Sara Suka suspects at the location, “while two members of a syndicate specializing in the production of fake security agencies identity cards were also apprehended.”
Enenche stated that all the arrested suspects were being profiled, after which they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for further action.
He noted that troops of Sector 1 deployed at Gagbe in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State conducted a dawn raid on another suspected armed bandits’ hideout at Tse Agi in the general area.
The gallant troops stormed the hideout and apprehended four suspects while one AK 47 rifle, 2 AK-47 rifle magazines and 46 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were also recovered at the location.
“The hideout was subsequently destroyed. In a similar vein, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested 35 suspected criminals during raids on some identified criminal hideouts at West of Mines, Mid West, Charcoal Market and Busa Buji areas of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The raids were conducted following intelligence reports of criminal activities in those areas,” Enenche said.
He explained that troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI have continued the aggressive clearance operations in the North-West zone of the country.
“For the period under review, we have witnessed downward trend in the activities of armed bandits and criminal elements in the zone.
“The gallant troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI within the period carried out series of clearance operations, ambushes and other aggressive and confidence-building patrols. Also, farm and highway patrols were carried out within the zone hence boosting the confidence of the people in carrying out their human activities.
“These operations have most importantly led to the neutralization of armed bandits, arrest of suspected bandits and their collaborators, rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of rustled cattle, smashing of illegal arms syndicates and illegal armed miners.”
The coordinator said “In one of the operations conducted on 3 September 2020, the gallant troops neutralized 2 armed bandits at Samawa village in Bungudu Local Government of Zamfara State. Similarly, on the same day, a bandit named Sada surrendered 3 AK 47 rifles, one SMG and 2 magazines to troops of Forward Operating Base DANSADAU in Zamfara State.”
