Operation Safe Haven Poised To Rid Plateau, Others Of Criminal Elements

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in charge of security in Plateau, Bauchi and part of Southern Kaduna State have recorded several successes in the months of April and May with troops neutralising bandits, recovering arms and arresting notorious gun runners in Plateau and Kaduna states. It all started with the arrest of two members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the month of April, 2025 in a coordinated operation by troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shendam.

During the sting operation, two suspected ISWAP members identified as Abdulkadir Dalhatu 25 years-old and Ubaidu Hassan 25 years-old posing as tailors were arrested by troops.

Again on 12 April 2025, Troops of Sector 2 OPSH acting on credible intelligence laid ambush to bandits along Pinau – Bangalala in Wase LGA and neutralised one bandit while others fled with gunshot injuries. Troops recovered one fabricated pistol, among several other successful operations.

In a swift reaction to the successes recorded so far by the Operation Save Haven (OPSH), the north central director of civil liberties organisation Mr. Steve Aluko commended troops of 3 armoured division of the Nigerian Army for achieving this great feat in the period under review.

He urged them to sustain the tempo with a view to rid the state of criminal elements who are hell bent to continue to unleash mayhem on law abiding citizens of the state.

Also speaking to me the Media and Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom said the arrested suspects are in custody making useful confessions to aid troops to conduct follow-up operations to arrest other members of the criminal syndicate and recover their arms and ammunition.

The General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Folusho Oyinlola during a meeting with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Plateau State chapters, sought their cooperation in addressing insecurity in the state.

He described the faith-based organisations as pivotal in protecting the sanity of the society and sanctity of human life, adding that security agencies will strengthen their operational capacity to confront emerging threats.

In their responses, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Fr Polycarp Lubo and Chairman, Jama’atu Nasril Islam Plateau State chapters, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo Haruna called on the general public to provide more credible information to aid the operations of troops as they intensify onslaughts on arm-carrying criminals in the state.