Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Taraba State, Nigeria — Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have achieved another operational success under Operation Peace Shield, apprehending two suspected gun runners during a coordinated intelligence‑led operation aimed at disrupting illegal arms trafficking in the state.
The first arrest took place on 11 January 2026, when troops of 6 Brigade, acting on credible intelligence in conjunction with operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), trailed and detained a suspect identified as Mr. Christopher Adamu, also known as “Suffer,” aged 48. Adamu was apprehended at Sebos Joint, Mayo Dasa General Area, Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Preliminary investigations by military intelligence revealed that Adamu was actively involved in illegal arms trafficking, a security threat that sustains violent crime and undermines peace in the region. Items recovered from him at the time of arrest included a hunter’s identification card, two ATM cards, a National Identification Card, a mobile phone, six rings, one hand band, and assorted charms. During interrogation, Adamu reportedly confessed to working with an accomplice known as “Chmn,” a suspect associated with Shomo Gari in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state.
Additional intelligence gleaned from Adamu’s arrest led to the detention of a second suspected gun runner, Mr. James Yangyang, aged 37, at Tautre Village on the outskirts of Anguwan Bera in Ardo Kola Local Government Area. Military sources say that subsequent investigation linked Christopher Adamu to the sale of an AK‑47 rifle to one Mr. Bazoe John of Murbai Village, Ardo Kola LGA, in November 2025, confirming the existence of a wider arms supply network that had previously evaded detection.
Both suspects are currently in military custody pending further investigation, after which they will be handed over to the appropriate legal authorities for prosecution. The arrests and seizures mark a significant disruption to the flow of illicit weapons in Taraba State, a development welcomed by security analysts who say cutting arms supply chains is critical to reducing criminal activity.
Reacting to the development, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 OPWS, commended the troops and intelligence operatives for their professionalism, vigilance and effective synergy in dismantling criminal networks that threaten peace and security in Taraba State. He emphasised that the operation sends a clear message to criminals and their collaborators about the resolve of the Nigerian Army to enforce the rule of law.
“The 6 Brigade will not relent in its resolve to rid Taraba State and its environs of illegal arms dealers and all forms of criminal elements,” Brigadier General Uwa said in a statement. “Those aiding, abetting or collaborating with criminals, whether within or outside the state, should desist immediately or be ready to face the full weight of the law. Our troops will continue to dominate the battlespace and decisively deal with anyone found undermining peace and security.”
The Commander also urged members of the public to continue supporting the Nigerian Army and other security agencies by providing timely and credible information, assuring that all information received will be treated with confidentiality and lead to prompt action. Community cooperation remains a core pillar of the military’s strategy to dismantle networks fuelling insecurity, particularly in volatile regions where illegal arms movements have exacerbated violence and criminal operations.
The arrests underscore the military’s ongoing efforts under Operation Whirl Stroke and Operation Peace Shield to clamp down on illicit arms trafficking, which remains a major enabler of criminality across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern states. Analysts say that success in those operations not only weakens the operational capabilities of armed groups but also reassures communities that the security architecture is increasingly responsive and intelligence‑driven.
As the investigation continues, further details about the extent of the arms network and potential links to other criminal enterprises are expected to emerge when the suspects are formally charged. Meanwhile, security officials reaffirm that the combined impact of patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint inter‑agency operations will remain central to stabilising Taraba State and enhancing safety for residents. Public appeals for cooperation are likely to intensify as authorities pursue broader strategies to secure the state’s borders, transport corridors and rural communities against illegal arms proliferation.
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