March 3, 2025 – Kaura, Kaduna State – The Operation SAFE HAVEN forces, operating within the framework of Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A mandate, have successfully apprehended a suspected gunrunner in the Kaura Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. The suspect was arrested during a highly coordinated sting operation based on sound intelligence, as the authorities mount efforts to contain the spread of illegal weapons and ammunition in the region.

The arrest was on 3rd March 2025 at a routine checkpoint in Mallagun, Kaura LGA. A blue OPEL VECTRA saloon car was stopped and searched by soldiers after being alerted to criminal activity relating to weapons.

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During the search, the soldiers discovered a locally made revolver rifle concealed in one of the car passengers’ black bag. The suspect, whose name was provided as Anthony Elisha, 24-year-old indigene of Sanga LGA, Kaduna State, was immediately interrogated upon discovery. Elisha confessed to the firearm and provided additional information that has raised concerns over the involvement of law enforcement agents in the sale of arms in the black market.

According to Elisha’s revelations, he was tasked by a civil police officer to deliver the gun to another criminal gang operating in Rami Kura, which is part of Lere LGA, also in Kaduna State. The suspect is already in custody, assisting the authorities by providing them with valuable information about his criminal associates, including the names of the police officers allegedly involved in the operation.

The authorities said the follow-up operations are already ongoing to apprehend the civil police officer and others who were implicated in the big criminal syndicate.

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It was in a statement released by the Media Information Officer, Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, that the investigation was brought into focus. Major Zhakom restated that the troops remain committed to making sure criminal elements are cleansed from the region, reassuring that the operation is a part of the wider strategy to reinstall peace and security in the region.

“Operation SAFE HAVEN is committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment in our Joint Operations Area (JOA),” Major Zhakom further stated. “We are making every effort to neutralize all criminality, and this arrest is a giant step towards that direction. We encourage the public to keep supporting us by providing us with timely and useful information that will help in these operations.”

The arrest comes at a time when Kaduna State security issues have been increasing, with various criminal networks dealing in arms trafficking and other criminal activities. Despite ongoing efforts by security agencies, including the Nigerian Army and other law enforcement agencies, illegal proliferation of weapons remains a serious problem in the region.

The move by the soldiers was applauded by most people in the state, who have complained for years about illegal firearms in the state. The residents have wished that this operation and subsequent security measures would lead to a long-term decline in violence and crime in Kaduna State.

Apart from the apprehension of the suspected gunrunner, the soldiers are also focused on a wider campaign to dismantle the networks behind such illegal operations. This entails coordination with national and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the active involvement of local communities, who have been instrumental in providing information leading to the identification and arrest of criminal syndicates.

The case is currently under investigation, and further arrests will be made over the course of the next few days as Operation SAFE HAVEN continues its efforts to eradicate the illegal possession of weapons by criminal actors.

In his final words, Major Zhakom urged the general public to continue offering support to security officers in the region. “The success of operations like this depends heavily on the cooperation between the military and the public. We can collectively create a safer environment for all,” he added.

Operation SAFE HAVEN, a mission charged with providing peace and security in flash points across Kaduna and its neighboring states, has been ever on the move in carrying out operations against criminal gangs who have been involved in violent crimes and arms trafficking. The operation has achieved mixed success in their operations such that most high-profile apprehensions have been made over the years. The continued existence of armed gangs, however, is an urgent concern.

For now, the authorities are focusing on gathering more intelligence and conducting more raids aimed at disbanding the criminal syndicates that have been active in the region. The security agencies have guaranteed that these operations will be continued until the sources of illegal weapons and their instigators are fully neutralized.

The action comes on the heels of other steps to bring order back to Kaduna State, where a myriad of security threats have plagued local residents. The detention of the suspected gunrunner is being perceived as a welcome move in the broader campaign to fight organized crime and weapons smuggling in Northern Nigeria.

As investigations go on, the Nigerian military, police, and public are still working hard in the shared endeavor of ensuring that violators and perpetrators of crime face the book.

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