Troops of the Special Military Task Force for Plateau and environs in the last few days while on various operations have arrested a total number of 23 criminals with various firearms and dangerous weapons as well as illicit substances.
Commander of the Military taskforce, code named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Augustine Agundu made the disclosure in Jos on Tuesday while reaffirming the commitment to rid the entire State from crimes and criminal elements.
He said, “We call on groups who have firearms in their possession to unconditionally surrender them to security agencies to avert prosecution once apprehended.
“The immediate concerns and impediment to a sustained peace on the Plateau relates to the activities of armed bandits, cult groups and the menace caused by ‘Sara-Suka’ hoodlums.
“It is however heartwarming to state that OPSH has taken decisive measures to eradicate all threats to peace on the Plateau, particularly as it concerns the above mentioned crimes.
“We have remained consistent in conducting result oriented operations on identified black spots and hideouts thereby leading to the arrest of wanted criminals as well as their collaborators”.
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It would be recalled that a rampaging group of cultists have been terrorizing innocent people in the State, a sad tale that has resulted to the untimely death of over 9 persons since their activities went out of control in mid July 2019.
Agundu said 10 cult members were apprehended with different types of weapons and illicit substances among which includes 2 locally fabricated pistols, 5 unused firearms cartridges, quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, quantities of illicit drugs (Diazepam) and 8 mobile phones suspected to have been dispossessed from their victims.
He added, “These bandits were apprehended during series of raids operations on suspected criminal hideouts around West of Miles, Moonshine Hotel, Summit Hotel, Popular Hotel and Old Bukuru Park all in Jos north LGA.
“In the course of conveying the suspects for interrogation, our operatives were attacked by one of the cultist in a bid to distract own troops to pave way for the arrested cultist to escape from the moving vehicle, but he was overpowered by our troops”.
The taskforce said the hoodlums will be handed over to the Directorate of Public Prosecution under the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
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