Troops Neutralise 2 Suspected Car Snatchers In Plateau
Troops of 3 Division Operation Safe Haven on patrol around the Federal Low-Cost Estate in Jos South local government area of Plateau State on Monday, April 28, 2025, busted a car-snatching syndicate.
This followed the interception of an ash coloured Opel Vectra car with 2 occupants at Lalong Gate of the Estate.
OPSH in a statement on Tuesday by its media officer, Major Samson Zhakom, disclosed that the driver of the car attempted to make a detour to escape upon sighting troops, but was immediately stopped by the vigilant soldiers.
According to the statement, the driver later attempted to overrun the patrol motorcycle of the troops while being interrogated, but troops acted swiftly by neutralising him.
He explained that during preliminary questioning of the surviving suspect, he confessed that they were armed robbers who specialised in snatching vehicles, adding that he returned to Jos from Katsina State for car-snatching business.
Major Zhakom further said that during search on the vehicle, troops recovered one identity card of a security agency used by the suspects to evade security checks alongside some master keys used in opening victims’ cars.
The statement further added that troops conducted a follow-up operation at the hideout of the suspects at Corner Shagari Angwan Rogo in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, where one fabricated pistol was recovered from the ceiling.
He stressed that the suspect volunteered to lead troops to the hideout of another accomplice in the same vicinity but in the process, attempted to disarm one of the soldiers to escape but troops acted swiftly by neutralising the suspect in the process.
Zhakom added that operations are underway to identify and apprehend other accomplices of the criminal syndicate.
He maintained that Operation SAFE HAVEN will continue to intensify efforts to clamp down on all forms of criminals and ensure that the general area is safe for law-abiding residents.
