Troops of the special Taskforce Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) said they have successfully arrested two members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Plateau State, as part of ongoing efforts under the operation code-named LAFIYAN JAMA’A.
Spokesperson for the OPSH Major Samson Zakhom, stated in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday in Jos that the arrest took place on April 11, 2025, during a coordinated operation at the Yelwa axis in the Shendam Local Government Area (LGA).
Zakhom said the suspects, identified as 25-year-olds Abdulkadir Dalhatu and Ubaidu Hassan, were posing as tailors in the area.According to the spokesperson, the two ISWAP members were detained by troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shendam in response to legitimate intelligence.
He said Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspects were part of an ISWAP cell tasked with establishing bases in Plateau and Bauchi States under the directive of an ISWAP Commander, adding that they had been using the guise of tailoring to further the group’s agenda in the area.
The major added that the suspects are now in custody for further interrogation.
“In another development, on the same day, 11 April 2025, troops of Sector 4 OPSH conducted a follow-up operation at a criminal’s hideout in Mazat Village, Barkin Ladi LGA. While the primary suspect managed to flee before the troops arrived, a thorough search of the hideout led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with registration number 23402, along with an AK-47 magazine.
The recovered weapons have been secured, and efforts to track down the fleeing criminal and recover additional weapons are ongoing.
“On 12 April 2025, troops of Sector 2 OPSH carried out a successful ambush against bandits operating along the Pinau-Bangalala Road in Wase LGA.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops made contact with the bandits, resulting in the neutralization of one bandit. The remaining bandits fled the scene, possibly with gunshot wounds.
During the follow-up operation, the troops recovered a fabricated pistol from the scene”.
Zakhom noted that the Operation SAFE HAVEN will continue to make strides in its mission to address security threats in the area.
He went on to say that the operation’s success was largely due to active collaboration between troops and the local people, as well as timely intelligence supplied.
