Soldiers kill suspected bandit, robber in Plateau

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in the ongoing Operation Lafiyan Jama’a, maintaining peace in Plateau State have neutralized a wanted suspected bandit and armed robber in two communities. The spokesman of the command, Major Samson Zhakom, who disclosed this to journalists in Jos, on Tuesday, said the operation was in continuation of the military’s […]

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in the ongoing Operation Lafiyan Jama’a, maintaining peace in Plateau State have neutralized a wanted suspected bandit and armed robber in two communities.

The spokesman of the command, Major Samson Zhakom, who disclosed this to journalists in Jos, on Tuesday, said the operation was in continuation of the military’s efforts to frustrate the activities of non-state actors in Plateau.

According to the major, the two suspects were killed in separate operations.

He said the elimination of the suspected bandit followed intense clearance operations conducted by troops at Kampani Zurak in Wase LGA of the state on March 24, 2025, adding that “The bandit, a member of the Auta-led banditry syndicate, had been operating in Wase general area and Taraba State before he was neutralised.

According to him, while the suspected bandit was killed in Wase, the robbery suspect was killed on March 24, 2025, following receipt of a distress call by the troops about an ongoing armed robbery incident along Bokkos-Richa road in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State.

He said troops mobilised to the area, made contact and overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower during which one of them was neutralised and others fled in disarray.

Major Zhakom explained that, “Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle from the neutralised criminal. The recovered weapon is in custody, while troops are currently conducting follow-up operations to intercept other fleeing members of the armed robbery gang.

“Operation SAFE HAVEN will remain decisive in its onslaught against criminal elements, while efforts to keep the Joint Operations Area safe will also be sustained,’’ he stated.