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TROOPS OF OPERATION SAFE HAVEN NEUTRALISE NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS, RESCUE VICTIMS AND RECOVER WEAPONS

Troops of Operation Safe Haven have successfully rescued four kidnapped victims and neutralized two notorious kidnappers in an encounter along the Kafanchan-Kwoi road in Kaduna. The operation was carried out by troops of Sector 7 Command of Operation Safe Haven under the command of Major-General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding the Third Armoured Division in Jos, Plateau State. According to reports, the troops received a distress call on February 14, 2025, at about 2030 hours, regarding the kidnapping of some passengers along the Kafanchan-Kwoi road at Afana Daji Village in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The troops immediately mobilized to the area and conducted search operations, leading to the rescue of one of the victims with a gunshot wound. Based on credible intelligence, the troops conducted further offensive operations around Angwan Rimi Forest in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State on February 15, 2025, at about 1600 hours. During the encounter, the troops neutralized two of the kidnappers and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, 8 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special), 10 mobile phones, foodstuffs, and a cash sum of One Million, One Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand Naira (#1,136,000.00) only. The rescued victims have been identified as Mathew Ayemowa, Tunde Salam, and Mustapha Mohammed. Troops are currently dominating the general area with mobile patrols to ensure the safety of the residents.

POLICE NEUTRALIZE ESN TERRORIST KINGPINS, RECOVER DANGEROUS WEAPONS IN IMO

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, announced that the Nigeria Police Force has achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against terrorism with the neutralization of three deadly terrorist kingpins associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo State. The operation, which took place on January 24, 2025, resulted in the neutralization of six members of the terrorist group, with three being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21). Adejobi stated that the operatives also recovered five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with eight operational motorcycles used by the group. Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, and the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022. Adejobi noted that the group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination. Adejobi quoted the IGP as charging police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025. Adejobi emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety.