On Saturday, the soldiers of Plateau State’s Operation Safe Haven apprehended two further gunrunners during negotiations to sell ammunition valued at N5 million in the state’s Bokkos Local Government area.

Less than 72 hours had passed since the army apprehended five infamous gunrunners at the Bayameni hamlet, located along Bauchi Road in the state’s Jos North LGA. This led to the discovery of automatic firearms and approximately 6,000 rounds of various ammunition.

The most recent gunrunners were apprehended in a hotel in the state’s Bokkos LG and placed under prison, according to a statement released on Saturday by Major Samson Zhakom, the spokesman for Operation Safe Haven.

“On September 18, 2024, Operation Safe Haven conducted follow-on operations in Bokkos Town, Bokkos LGA of Plateau State, barely 72 hours after the arrest of five infamous gunrunners, which resulted in the recovery of automatic weapons and approximately 6,000 rounds of assorted ammunition at Bayameni along Bauchi Road in Jos North LGA of Plateau State on September 17, 2024,” the statement stated.

Security agencies busted another criminal organisation during the intelligence-based sting operations as they were completing sales of weapons and ammunition at the Banana Island Hotel in Bokkos for five million naira (N5,000,000.00). As a result, the following automatic weapons were found and two infamous gunrunners, identified as Thomas Benedict and Matawal Bitrus, were captured: Three weapons: two AK-47 rifles, one automatic pistol, two AK-47 magazines, and one magazine for a Baretta pistol.

The suspects have been placed under arrest pending questioning in order to gather information necessary to apprehend the remaining members of the fugitive gunrunning syndicate. The claim that there is no ethno-religious boundary defining criminality is supported by the most recent arrests of gunrunners and the discovery of weapons and ammunition in both the Jos North and Bokkos LGAs.

According to the statement, criminality is a shared adversary that needs to be defeated in order to give law-abiding persons the opportunity to pursue their socioeconomic goals without fear.

Although it has been established that one of the main causes of security risks is the widespread availability of guns, Operation SAFE HAVEN is always prepared to work with other security authorities to take tough measures against those who engage in this unlawful activity.

“To ensure a crime-free environment, the good people of Plateau, Bauchi, and Southern Kaduna are kindly enjoined to continue providing security agencies with credible information towards the arrest of criminal elements.” Our recently created toll-free line, 08000020203, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for information exchange and quick reactions to any security risks. You may be confident we’ll take prompt action at all times. I’m grateful to everyone.