The Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Markus Kangye who also spoke on the activities of JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH CENTRAL OPERATION SAFE HAVEN said troops killed some extremists and arrested 4.
He said during the period under review, that is between 30 May – 3 June 2025,
troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted several operations:
During the offensive operations, troops
made contact with extremists in Riyom, Wase, Mangu, Qua’An Pan, Bassa and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State as well as Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State.
They also conducted operations to the border between Plateau and Taraba State. During the encounters, our gallant troops killed some extremists, arrested 4 and rescued 3 kidnapped victims. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from them.
He said that troops acting on a tip-off arrested 7 suspected criminals/kidnappers in Maangu, Bassa Bakin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs of Plateau State
On Counter/Anti Kidnapping and Criminality Operations. The Director said that troops, while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations, responded to credible intelligence about criminal activities in Riyom, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos South and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State between 30 May – 2 June 2025. During the operations, some extremists were killed, while 3 kidnapped victims were rescued. Some arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles and livestock were also recovered from them.
While on its part troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded the following during the period under review;
Offensive Operations. Between 29 May – 3June2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with extremists in Lafia, Keffi, Kokona, Keana Karu and Doma LGAs of Nsarawa State as well as Logo, Guma, Markudi, Gwer East, Apa, Konshisha and Ger West LGAs of benue State.
They further conducted similar operations in Karim Lamido, Lau, and taakum LGAs of Taraba State as well as Kabba-Bunu and Lokoj LGAs of Kogi State. During the encounters, our gallant troops eliminated some extremists, arrested 5 suspected criminals identified as Shimu Ilu Adamu, Ismaila Ilu Hassan, and HIU Michaae otherwise known as Matches as well as 6 others. Troops, also 2 kidnapped victims. Overall, they recovered from the extremist/ criminal arms and ammunition, motorcycles, vehicles, mobile phones, and the sum of N534,600.00.
Similarly, troops acted on a tip-off, raided a residence of a suspected arrested him, identified as Shittu Muazu Bakasi in Karu LGA of Nasarawa State on 30 May 2025. Items recovered from his residence were weapons and ammunition, military uniforms and accoutrement, as well as motorcycle and mobile phone.
In other developments, 16 criminals were also arrested during the week in Kogi, Lokoja LGAs of Kogi State, as well as Karu and Suleija LGAs of Nasarawa and Niger States respectively. Others were apprehended in Owan West LGA of Edo State. Troops recovered weapons and ammunition, laptops, vehicles, motorcycles, and the sum of N438,810.00. The criminals were handed over to appropriate authority for further action.
Counter/Anti Kidnapping and Criminality Operations. Between 30 May – 3 June 2025, troops, while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations, responded to information about criminal activities in Gwer East and Gwer West LGAsBenue State as well as Doma LGA of Nasarawa State. During the operations, some criminals were killed, 3 were arrested, and 2 kidnapped victims were rescued. They recovered some weapons and ammunition as well as mobile phones, motorcycles, and vehicles from them.