In a significant gallantry the Nigerian troops of 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN on 28 April 2025, busted a car snatching syndicate in Jos, Plateau State.
Troops while on patrol around the Federal Low-Cost Estate in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) intercepted an Ash coloured OPEL VECTRA car with two occupants at Lalong Gate of the Estate.
The driver attempted to escape but was immediately stopped by the troops. However, while questioning the occupants of the car, the driver attempted to zoom off and overrun the patrol motorcycle of the troops but troops acted swiftly neutralizing the driver of the vehicle.
But the surviving suspect confessed that they are armed robbers who specialized in snatching vehicles, adding that he returned to Jos from Katsina State on 27 April 2025 for car snatching activities.
Troops recovered one identity card of a security agency used by the criminals to evade security checks and some car master keys used in opening cars of their victims.
Relatedly, troops conducted follow-up operations at the hideout of the suspects at Corner Shagari Angwan Rogo in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, and recovered one fabricated pistol from the ceiling of the hideout.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, and shared with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Major Zhakom, the suspect is cooperating with troops, volunteering to lead them to the hideout of another accomplice in the same vicinity.
However, while leading troops to the hideout, the suspect made a daring attempt to disarm one of the soldiers in order to escape but met his waterloo as troops neutralised the suspect.
Troops are conducting operations to identify and apprehend other accomplices of the criminal syndicate.
The Army assures that Operation SAFE HAVEN is intensifying efforts to clamp down on all forms of criminals and ensure the general area is safe for law-abiding residents.
