 on Wednesday, July 3, carried out a successful offensive in Plateau State){kind=link}
In a coordinated military operation aimed at flushing out criminal elements, troops of the 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Wednesday, July 3, carried out a successful offensive in the rugged terrains of Tulus and Hokk communities in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, along the boundary with Nasarawa State.
During the engagement, the troops neutralised one bandit while others escaped into nearby bushes.
The military operation, according to a statement issued by Major Samson Zhakom, the Media Information Officer of OPSH, is part of ongoing efforts to rid the region of banditry and other violent crimes. He noted that following the encounter, troops conducted extensive exploitation of the area but made no further contact with the fleeing criminals.
Nevertheless, military presence remains strong in the area, with both mobile and static patrols strategically deployed to deny the criminals freedom of movement and to prevent further attacks.
In a separate but related operation later the same day, at approximately 5:45 pm, troops acting on actionable intelligence intercepted an arms trafficking suspect in Mangar, a community within the Daffo District of Bokkos LGA. The suspect was apprehended at a snap checkpoint set up along a suspected route frequently used by gunrunners operating in the region.
During the search, troops discovered a cache of arms and ammunition hidden on the suspect’s motorcycle. Recovered items include one AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, three rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, two Tecno mobile phones, a set of clothing, a motorcycle, and a small sum of cash amounting to ₦400.
The suspect is currently in military custody, and investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the arms trafficking syndicate.
Major Zhakom emphasized that these operational gains are part of the broader strategic objectives of Operation Safe Haven to dismantle criminal networks and disrupt the flow of illegal arms in the region.
He reaffirmed the troops’ commitment to maintaining peace and security by blocking all avenues through which criminals carry out attacks on innocent civilians, especially the use of unauthorized weapons.