Soldiers of the Operation Safe Haven, a special task force in Plateau, have killed three suspected armed robbers in the state, Maj.-Gen Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, the Commander of the task force, said Jos on Thursday.

Mr. Okonkwo said the criminals were killed Wednesday night while operating around the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Mangu Halle, Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

He said that three other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds.

“The robbers had robbed three vehicles of their belongings including phones and other valuables.

“After a long pursuit by our men, three out of the six robbers  were neutralised while three others escaped and suspected to have fled into the adjoining villages with gunshot wounds,” he said.

The commander said some of the items recovered from them included two locally made long guns, six cartridges and a locally made pistol with five 9MM rounds of live ammunition.

He said that the dead bodies were handed over to the Mangu Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

He assured Plateau residents of the military readiness to ensure a crime free and peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state.