Alhaji Yakubu Shanano has been taken into custody by Operation Safe Haven troops for the alleged murder of a Mobile Police officer in Plateau State.
It was discovered that the policeman who was a part of the military task group responsible for preserving order had been murdered in the state’s Bokkos Local Government Area.
Captain Oya James, a spokesman for the military task force, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday. He said that he and the other 14 suspects were detained for a variety of crimes, including drug selling and kidnapping.
According to the announcement, “From November 6 to November 13, 2023, troops of Operation Safe Haven on Operation HAKORIN DAMISA IV arrested 15 suspects in connection with kidnapping, murder, arms dealing, criminal attacks, cattle rustling, drug peddling, and farm destruction.”
In connection with the October 24, 2023, murder of Abdulkarim Saidu, troops detained Jerome Bulus Alamba and Denis Yohanna at Fang village in Riyom LGA of Plateau State on November 6, 2023.
In a related incident, on November 7, 2023, troops from Sector 5 OPSH detained one Alhaji Yakubu Shanono in the Plateau State hamlet of Bokkos LGA in relation to the death of an OPSH-affiliated mobile police officer. On the same day, in Kassa village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, army captured 75 cows for damage of farms.
“On November 8, 2023, troops conducted raid operations to the hideout of illicit drug peddlers at Bargar village in Kanam LGA of Plateau State, in cooperation with the NDLEA, Pankshin Command.”
Furthermore, on November 9, 2023, two offenders, Haruna Yusuf and Zubairu Jibril, were apprehended by Operation HAKORIN DAMISA IV forces as they attempted to evade the troops’ checkpoint at Chanso village in Mangu LGA of Plateau State. The criminals had one rifle when they were apprehended.On November 10, 2023, near Mista Ali village in Jos North LGA, troops acting on reliable information detained Mr. Sani Suleiman, a suspected kidnapper. The same day, in Kamaru village in Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, troops stationed at Zangon Kataf apprehended Mr. Anu Usman, a person accused of kidnapping.
Similarly, after engaging in gunfire with the miscreants at Sat village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State, troops found 144 cows that had been stolen by unidentified gunmen.
On November 11, 2023, at Angwan Buka village in Riyom LGA of Plateau State, two abducted victims, Michael James and John D., were freed by soldiers of Sector 6 OPSH. The victims that were saved were abducted while traveling along Hawan Kibo Road in Riyom Local Government Area. They have subsequently been reunited with their relatives.
In Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, on November 12, 2023, a team including OPSH and the Department of State Services apprehended Bala Inusa, popularly known as Maigero, a notorious gun dealer.
One AK-47 rifle, one Ak-47 magazine, one handgun, 417 rounds of special 7.62mm ammunition, one Toyota Starlet vehicle with a number plate, Adamawa MUB-779JB, and one dual SIM Tecno phone were found with the suspect, who had been on the security agencies’ wanted list. In addition, on November 12, 2023, near the Danmakasuwa Mariri axis of Southern Kaduna, another gunrunner was apprehended with one AK-47 rifle during a sting operation.
As a result of responding to a distress call at Dakanung village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State on November 12, 2023, troops from the OPSH Special Force apprehended one miscreant, Bala Yerima, and seized several items, including an AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, six rounds of special 7.62mm ammunition, and a red Boxer motorcycle.
In a related incident, troops apprehended one Davou Barry of Gyel District at Kara Market of Bukuru Area of Jos South LGA, based on intelligence gathering and found him in possession of 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one round of 7.62mm NATO ammunition during an attempted exchange.
“During the course of the week, Zubairu Usman and Saminu Haruna, two suspects accused of stealing and criminal conspiracy, were found guilty thanks to Operation Safe Haven. After entering guilty pleas, the suspects received sentences of two years in prison apiece, with the possibility of fines.
Two suspects were apprehended for kidnapping, one for dealing in weapons, two for murder, four for selling illegal drugs, and four for destroying farms. Two suspects were found guilty of criminal acts. Four attacks on communities that were vulnerable were prevented, and seven distress calls were promptly attended to. In all, fifteen suspects were detained in relation to the various crimes.
The statement reaffirmed the Operation Safe Haven’s dedication to using all legal methods to protect law-abiding citizens in the states of Plateau, Kaduna, and Bauchi. Major General AE Abubakar is the operation’s commander.
It thanked the public for continuing to support the armed forces and gave them the assurance that all detained suspects would face appropriate charges in court after their investigations were properly completed.