Troops of Operation Safe Haven have killed two notorious kidnappers and rescued nine travellers at Beco Junction Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The two dead kidnappers were identified as Abdulrazaq Umar and Idris Abdullahi.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko said the soldiers recorded the feats in operations conducted alongside police operatives between Thursday and Saturday last week .
The two kidnappers who were killed after they tried to escape after being arrested, reportedly named one Mallam Buhari Umar as the leader of the gang.
Onyeuko said;
“Notably on 7 and 8 July 2022, troops of Operation Safe Haven, in conjunction with Plateau State Police Command, arrested two notorious kidnappers, Abdulrazaq Umar and Idris Abdullahi, at Beco Junction Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State.
“Suspects confessed to have carried out several kidnapping activities within Plateau and Bauchi States, including the murder of Alhaji Saleh Abdulhamid (Shaba) at Ex-Land Village on 22 Jun 22.
“However, while enroute the criminals’ hideout, the suspects attempted to escape and were neutralised.”
Troops also conducted a raid operation at Mailafia, Nisama, Dogon Filli and Gidan Waya – all in Jema’a Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
During the operation, he disclosed that troops arrested two suspected armed robbers identified as George Yakubu and George Joseph.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects include three fabricated AK 47 riffles, a knife, a cutting hoe, a cutter, and a spanner.
“Also, on the same day, troops responded to a distress call that gunmen have attacked a Toyota Hummer bus with registration number ‘LFA 322 YR Nasarawa’ at Dogon Filli village in Jema’a LGA.
“Troops mobilised to the scene and rescued 9 passengers who were held hostage.
“The military high command commends troops of Operation Safe Haven for their efforts and encourages the general public to avail troops with credible and timely information on criminal activities.”
