16TH, AUGUST 2020

Operatives of the Plateau State Security Outfit, Operation Rainbow have cracked down on a notorious illicit drug peddling market located within the premises of Government Secondary School Gangare in Jos North Local Government Area.

The raid which lead to the arrest of sixteen persons involved in the illicit drug business was said to have been carried out at about 6pm Nigerian time.

According to reports the illicit drug market operates daily within the facilities of GSS Gangare attracting buyers and sellers from other parts of the city thereby posing threats to lives and property of innocent citizens around Gangare and environs.

DSP Ajik Ezekiel Azi of the Operation Rainbow who lead the operation with support of the Neighborhood watch and Vigilante’ Nigeria said they acted on credible information that daily within the hours of 6-9pm,drug and other related activities take place within the GSS Gangare premises which has become a sort of a market patronized by those on foot,motorcycles and even cars.

He said it was a successful operation when Operation Rainbow swooped in on them which lead to the arrests.

While parading them at the Headquarters of Operation Rainbow in Jos,DSP Ajik said their details have been taken and liaison is ongoing to transfer them to relevant authorities who will carry on further investigations.

He added that among the sixteen arrested, one was found with an ID Card belonging to the Nigerian Army claiming he was a dismissed and now recalled soldier who once served in Borno State.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary Cabinet and Special Services, Cornelius Shiolbial who oversee’s Operation Rainbow said the outfit will continue to partner communities with its community approach strategy to rid the state of such acts.

He regretted that youths have taken to drug business endangering their lives and that of others but was quick to say the the outfit has been repositioned in terms of collaboration with sister agencies for the overall safety of citizens and called on all to avail the Security Outfit of information at all times.

At the time of filing this report, the suspects had been paraded with drugs seized and motorcycles used.

Fifteen of them have been handed over the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency while the suspect arrested with Military identity card has been handed over to the Department of State Services for further investigation.

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Operation Rainbow Cracks Down on Illegal Drug Market in Jos, Arrests 16