Anita Ogona
Plateau Gunrunners’ Hideout Raided, Nigeria’s Operation Safe Haven Officer Killed, Guns, Spears, Arrows, Others Recovered
It was gathered that during the operation, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration CL Agwom, a member of the team, was killed by the criminals.
Troops from 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven have arrested eight suspects and recovered both automatic and locally fabricated weapons, along with various calibres of ammunition from Ratas, Ratoso, and Sangasa Villages in Fann District, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State.
It was gathered that during the operation, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration CL Agwom, a member of the team, was killed by the criminals.
This is contained in a statement by the Military Information Officer, Operation Safe Haven, Major SN Zhakom, on Thursday.
He said following the incident, troops conducted an operation in the district to recover illegal arms and ammunition and other dangerous weapons in line with the core mandate of the operation.
Items recovered during the operation: Twelve AK-47 rifles, 12 fabricated AK-47 rifles, 15 Dane guns, 15 AK-47 magazine, one AK-47 drum magazine having capacity of 75 rounds, two hundred and fifty rounds of 7.62 mm (Special), two cartridges, two bottles of gunpowder, one sword, one complete pair of military woodland camouflage dress, one pair of military combat boot, two spears, one bow and eight arrows and seven motorcycles.
The statement read, “The huge recoveries of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons as well as military uniforms from Fann District in just one week further affirms that the district is a criminal enclave. Hence, the false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons are merely to divert attention from the large cache of weapons in the hands of unauthorized persons in the district.
“Let me therefore seize this opportunity to reiterate that 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN will leave no stone unturned in its quest to mop up illegal arms and ammunition within the Joint Operations Area in line with its mandate.”
He said, “We therefore urge the public to continue to collaborate and avail security agencies with credible information that will aid in securing law-abiding citizens in the Joint Operations Area.
“Also, as part of efforts to arrest criminals complicit in criminal activities in Fann District and environs, the following persons are hereby declared wanted by security agencies: Mr Timothy Zakka Dung also known as Timaya, Mr Sam P, Dachun Job and Yakubu Ishaku.
He urged any person with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects to kindly contact the nearest security outpost
He said, “Let me conclude this brief by acknowledging the courageous and brave efforts of the late Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Christopher Luka Agwom who paid the supreme price during the operation to recover arms and ammunition at Sangasa Village on 10 July 2024.”
SN Zhakom said the officer who paid the supreme price was of the Jarawa tribe, who hails from Risek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He described him as very hard-working and reliable, saying he rose to become the Administrative Officer of Sector 4 Operation Safe Haven through his dedication and commitment to duty.
He added that the death of the officer has left a vacuum not only for his young wife and three children but for the entire 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven.
“The late officer was laid to rest at Rizek Community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday 16 Jul 24.
“Let me assure you that his sacrifice will not be in vain as we would not be deterred by false propaganda by miscreants and other misguided persons. 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN remain resolute in its drive to rid the entire Joint Operations Area of criminalities,” he said.
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