Troops of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, operating under Operation Safe Haven, have successfully neutralized armed bandits and intercepted a suspected gunrunner during a daring mission across troubled parts of Plateau and Nasarawa States.
The operation, which took place on July 3, 2025, was launched in the notorious bandit-infested terrains of Tulus and Hokk communities near the Plateau-Nasarawa border. According to an official statement released on the Army’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the troops executed a coordinated assault in the early hours, targeting known hideouts in the area.
As soldiers advanced on Hokk, they came under heavy fire from armed groups entrenched in the dense terrain. An intense gun battle ensued, but the gallant troops, leveraging superior tactics and firepower, overwhelmed the assailants. Several bandits were eliminated in the firefight, while others escaped into the surrounding forest.
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After the encounter, the soldiers conducted a thorough sweep of the area to track fleeing elements and recover any hidden weapons. Although no further resistance was encountered, the Army maintained a strong presence with continuous patrols to prevent the regrouping of the criminals and to restore confidence among local residents who have lived in fear of repeated attacks.
Later in the day, around 5:45 PM, a separate operation based on intelligence gathering led the troops to Mangar in the Daffo District of Bokkos. There, a suspected arms trafficker was intercepted at a temporary checkpoint while transporting a stash of illegal weapons and ammunition on a motorcycle. The arrest, made with precision and speed, is being hailed as a critical blow to the weapons supply chain fueling violence in the region.
The suspect is currently in military custody and undergoing interrogation, with investigators working to uncover the full extent of the trafficking network believed to be aiding armed groups in central Nigeria.
