Military troops of Operation Safe Haven saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace in Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi States have neutralised 6 kidnappers in Mangu Local Government of Plateau State.
Military Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Ishaku Gaji Takwa in a press statement signed and issued to Journalists on Tuesday in Jos said three officers of the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team also lost their lives in the process.
“Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) successfully neutralised syndicate of 6 criminals that specialise in kidnapping innocent people in Mangu local government area of Plateau State. The troops also recovered weapons belonging to the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from the bandits.
“The Troops in a joint operations with the Divisional Police Headquarters at Mangu responded swiftly to a distress call from the IRT that bandits had attacked the team and took away their weapons. The criminals were immediately trailed and neutralised after a gun duel with the troops.
“Remains of the IRT members who lost their lives and that of the 6 criminal gangs were recovered. The troops also recovered 3 AK 47 rifles belonging to IRT team earlier taken away by the criminals.
The statement noted that the Commander Operation Safe Haven Major General Ibrahim Ali while commending the troops for their swift response also charged them to continue the collaborative efforts and sustain the tempo until criminal elements are wiped out of plateau state.
He further directed the troops to dominate all suspected criminal hideouts and deny them freedom of action.
General Ali also called on citizens to continue to collaborate with troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN and always provide the Operation with credible security information.
Investigation gathered that the Police officers lost their lives on Monday in a gun battle with armed bandits in Pyem district of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state.
