In a significant development in the efforts to curb insecurity in Plateau State and its environs, the Special Military Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has announced the recovery of 130 illegal weapons. The recovery was made during joint operations in the state and surrounding areas.
Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven, officially handed over the cache of recovered weapons to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) on Monday in Jos. During the handover, Gen. Abubakar reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Safe Haven to combatting the rising tide of insecurity in the region. He emphasized that the task force employed both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to achieve this substantial recovery of illegal arms.
“Our troops have displayed unwavering determination in combatting all forms of criminal activities and violence,” Maj.-Gen. Abubakar stated, adding that the forces adopted an offensive stance, leading to numerous successful kinetic operations and the subsequent recovery of the illegal weapons.
The breakdown of the seized weapons is as follows: 29 dane guns, 53 fabricated revolver rifles, 14 AK-47 rifles, one English pistol, 21 locally fabricated pistols, one G3 rifle, and eight locally fabricated AK-47 rifles. Additionally, the recovered weapons include nine Harrisburg pistols, two locally fabricated submachine guns (SMG), 28 AK-47s, three locally fabricated magazines, one RPG7 tube, four RPG7 rockets with chargers, 1,522 rounds of ammunition, and 500 rounds of 9mm ammunition, among other items.
Expressing gratitude towards the residents of Plateau State for their unwavering support and cooperation, Gen. Abubakar assured the public that the troops of Operation Safe Haven would continue to uphold fairness and justice in their operations. He vowed to sustain the momentum in order to decisively curtail the activities of criminal elements within their joint area of operation while remaining professional, decisive, and responsive in fulfilling their constitutional mandate.
Upon receiving the illegal weapons, Maj.-Gen. Hamza Bature, the North-Central Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, commended the efforts of Operation Safe Haven in tackling insecurity in the state. He highlighted the importance of the recovered weapons being taken out of unauthorized hands, as each weapon retrieval potentially translates to saving numerous lives.
“This is the second time OPSH is handing over recovered illegal weapons to us, and we commend them for this effort,” Maj.-Gen. Bature remarked. He also called on the public to actively support the military and other security agencies by sharing information and cooperating in intelligence gathering to put an end to all forms of insecurity across the nation.
The recovery of such a substantial number of illegal weapons represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in Plateau State. With Operation Safe Haven’s determination and the support of the public, there is hope for further progress in securing the region from the menace of criminal elements.
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