Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of Sector 8 of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have arrested a suspected kidnappers’ informant and recovered a pistol during an intelligence-led operation in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The suspect, identified as Yahaya Haruna, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Mungi village following credible intelligence linking him to criminal elements operating in the area.
According to security sources, troops of Sub-Sector 81 deployed at Gyambwas carried out the operation at about 12:15 a.m. after receiving specific information on the suspect’s alleged activities. The sources said a search conducted at the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of one pistol believed to be connected to criminal operations. “Acting on intelligence, troops arrested the suspect and conducted a search of his house, during which one pistol was recovered,” the sources said. The suspect and the recovered weapon were taken into custody for further investigation.
Security officials said preliminary investigations were ongoing to establish the suspect’s alleged links with kidnapping syndicates and determine the source of the recovered firearm. They noted that efforts were also being intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network. The arrest forms part of ongoing security operations aimed at disrupting kidnapping networks and dismantling criminal support structures across Plateau State, which has seen a surge in abductions and communal violence in recent months.
The operation comes just days after troops of Operation Safe Haven rescued six travellers abducted along the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sanyin Road in Riyom LGA, though the driver of the vehicle remained missing. It also follows separate incidents of cattle rustling and targeted killings of herders by suspected Berom militia in Jos South LGA, where a 15-year-old herder and a resident were killed. The military has intensified patrols and intelligence-gathering across the state, with a focus on rooting out informants who provide logistical and tactical support to bandits and kidnappers.
The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Markus Sarai, commended the troops for their swift response and urged residents to remain vigilant. He called on community members to report suspicious activities to security agencies promptly. The Plateau State Police Command has also confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspect would be charged upon conclusion of investigations.
Authorities urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality. As of Sunday evening, no further details on the suspect’s alleged network had been released, but security sources said the operation had dealt a significant blow to kidnapping logistics in the Mangu area.
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