BREAKING: Soldiers, hunters kill Fulani herdsmen, arrest armed robbers in Plateau, Kaduna

The Defence Headquarters, on Wednesday, said troops of Operation Safe Haven, in collaboration with hunters, killed bandits and kidnappers in Plateau and Kaduna States.

It said the bandits and kidnappers were neutralised during sperate clearance operations conducted in Plateau and Kaduna States.

A statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko, said troops recovered two AK47 rifles, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special, five magazines, one motorcycle, one iron digger and two black jackets, amongst others, during the operations.

The statement partly read, “Troops of Operation Safe Haven in a sustained effort to eliminate criminal elements in their Areas of operation on June 28 , 2022, based on credible intelligence, conducted clearance operations in conjunction with vigilantes at Kan Duniya Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, neutralised notorious bandits and kidnappers. Similarly, on the same day, troops on fighting patrol sighted two suspected kidnappers around the Sara High Ground Mangu Local Government Area Plateau State on a motorcycle. Suspects abandoned their motorcycle on sighting the troops and fled.”

Onyeuko added that troops rescued three kidnapped victims in a bush at Fanock village in Kaduna.

He said, “Also, troops conducted a cordon search operation at Fanock Village, Jema’a Local Government Area in Kaduna State and found a Toyota Corolla car with registration number ABUJA KUJ 452 AZ with no occupant. Troops conducted search operations in the surrounding bush and rescued three kidnaped civilians; two females and a male.”

Onyeuko also said troops arrested no fewer than 10 armed robbery suspects in Kafanchan Town, Jema’a Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

“Additionally, same day troops arrested 10 armed robbery suspects at Kafanchan Town, Jema’a Local Government Area Kaduna State. The arrested suspects include Messrs Manga Ismail, 22 years, Idris Haruna (Ban Sambo), 20 years, Sani Bali, 19 years, Shamsudeen Ladan, 25 years, Abdulmajid Yau (Sele), 22 years, Abubakar Hassan, 23 years, Abbas Aliyu, 15 years, Mohammed Umar (Jazuli), 17 years, Jonathan Vincent (Bamai), 19 years and Stephen Joseph, 25 years.

“Items recovered from the criminals include: TV, DVD, gas cookers, Mattresses, woofer, phones, scissors, among others. They are presently undergoing interrogations.”