Troops of Operation Safe Haven have turned down a ₦13.7 million bribe offered by suspected terrorists during an operation in Plateau State, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) revealed on Thursday.
The DHQ said the incident occurred when the troops, acting on a distress call, intercepted a suspicious vehicle riddled with bullet holes along the Jos–Sanga Road.
Addressing journalists in Abuja while giving an update on military operations conducted nationwide between July 9 and 16, 2025, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, confirmed that two suspects in the vehicle attempted to buy their freedom.
“On 9 July 2025, our gallant troops intercepted a vehicle with bullet holes along Jos, Sanga Road. Suspects attempted to induce troops with monetary gratification, but they declined. Troops arrested two suspects, recovered weapons, ammunition, a vehicle, and the sum of N13,742,000.00 from them.
“Investigation ongoing while recovered items in troops’ custody, ” he said.
Kangye said the troops also carried out offensive operations and responded to several distress calls in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, South Wase, Riyom, and Jos East LGAs of Plateau State, as well as Kaura and Sanga LGAs in Kaduna State.
He further disclosed that routine patrols led to the arrest of seven suspected militias and criminals in Barkin Ladi and Jos South LGAs of Plateau, and Wamba and Sanga LGAs of Nasarawa and Kaduna States.
Kangye said items recovered included additional weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, and illicit drugs.
He said, “Within the period 9 – 16 July 2025, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted offensive operations and responded to distress calls on terrorists’ activities in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, South Wase, Riyom, and Jos East Local Government Areas of Plateau State as well as Kaura and Sanga Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
“While conducting these operations, they contacted extremists and killed some of them, arrested 12, and rescued three kidnapped victims. Some weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, and vehicles were recovered from them.
Similarly, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, while on routine patrol, arrested seven militias/criminals in Barkin Ladi and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State, as well as Wamba and Sanga LGAs of Nasarawa and Kaduna States, respectively. Items recovered from them were weapons, ammunition, and motorcycles, as well as illicit drugs.
READ ALSO: Troops Kill 30 Bandits in Katsina, Lose 5 Security Personnel in Fierce Clash
“He praised the professionalism and integrity of the troops, particularly for refusing the attempted bribe, stressing that the military remains committed to rooting out terrorism and criminality while upholding ethical standards.
Speaking on the successes recorded in the fight against oil theft, he said troops of Operation Delta Safe have, in the last week, apprehended 42 suspected oil thieves and recovered large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.
Kangye added that the troops recovered 201,345 litres of stolen crude oil, 29,730 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, and 1,759 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene.
He stated that troops also discovered and destroyed 18 crude oil cooking ovens, 32 dugout pits, 16 boats, 21 storage tanks, 17 drums, and 19 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and 13 vehicles.
“Furthermore, 42 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition and some explosives were also recovered,” he said.
Kangye further disclosed that troops also apprehended a notorious cult leader identified as Prince Johnson Ishirim, otherwise known as Commander Junior, and 13 other suspected criminals/kidnappers in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers and the Oshimiri, Warri South, and Ukwani Local Government Areas of Delta. Weapons and ammunition, as well as vehicles and motorcycles, were recovered from them.
According to him, troops also raided a criminal’s hideout in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa and arrested 28 oil thieves and some drug dealers on July 10.