Operation Safe Haven, the Special Task Force in charge of security in Plateau State and Southern Kaduna has restored normalcy in Jos and arrested 10 hoodlums in connection with the recent skirmishes.
Newsmen recalls that there were skirmishes in Jos early in the week, resulting in the death of five people while several others were injured and 12 houses bunrt.
Commander of the STF, Major General Augustine Agundu, made the disclosure on Saturday in Jos when he paraded some of the suspects.
Agundu said that during the operation to restore normalcy, troops arrested Adams Ibrahim, Bello Mohammed, Yusuf Ibrahim, Mansur Suleiman, Saudi Mohammed, Zaraddeen and Haruna in their attempt to commit arson.
“The suspects were arrested while they were in possession of premium motor spirit in two Swan water bottles, machetes, pickaxes and cutlasses.
“They were arrested in their illicit effort to commence reprisal attacks, a situation which would have engulfed the entire Jos metropolis.
“Also during a cordon-and-search operation in suspected hoodlums hideout in Dutse Uku, Abubakar Abdullahi, Mansur Abdullah & Agwom Azi were apprehended,” he said.
He noted that the hoodlums on sighting approaching troops started hurling dangerous weapons at them.
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Agundu said that in similar vein, troops deployed to Jema’a Local Government of Kaduna State acting on a tip-off apprehended three suspected gunrunners and a suspected armed robber.
The commander named the suspected gunrunners as Philip Yusuf, Jessy Yusuf, and Caleb Yusuf while the armed robber is Istifanus Machu.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspected gunrunners were siblings who have been into the fabrication of firearms for unscrupulous elements and criminals in the society since 2006.
“Items recovered from them included two unfinished fabricated revolver guns, two welding machines, one painting machine, a generator and a box containing assorted tools used for the fabrication of firearms.
“Machu, on the other hand, was caught with one camouflage shirt, one police force combat trouser, two web belts and a toy revolver pistol.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that Machu belongs to an armed robbery syndicate that has been operating and terrorising some villages in Southern Kaduna,” he added.
Major General Agundu added that two suspected drug peddlers, Abubakar Isah and Muktar Abubakar were also arrested at Congo Russia in Jos after a tip-off.
Illicit drugs found in their possession, the commander said, were suspected to be Tramadol, Exol 5, Diazepam and rubber solution.
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