Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Taraba State, Nigeria — Troops of the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Sector 3 of Operation WHIRL STROKE, have achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against arms trafficking and criminal networks operating within the state, arresting suspected gun runners and recovering weapons and ammunition, military authorities announced this week.
According to a military statement issued by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the brigade, the operation was conducted in collaboration with operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and was based on credible, actionable intelligence aimed at dismantling networks involved in the illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the area.
The success follows earlier intelligence-led arrests of two suspected gun runners. Identified as Christopher Adamu and James Yangyang, they were detained on January 11 and 12, 2026, at Sebos Joint in Mayo Dassa in Jalingo Local Government Area and Tautre Village in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, respectively.
Building on the earlier successes, troops carried out a cordon-and-search operation at Murubai Village in Ardo-Kola LGA, where they recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine and four rounds of live ammunition from the residence of a suspected arms trafficker identified as Bazoe John, who is currently on the run.
The operation was described as professionally executed with precision, discipline and respect for civil authority, and concluded without casualties or incident, reflecting the operational competence of the troops involved, the statement said.
Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade and Sector 3, Operation WHIRL STROKE, commended troops and intelligence operatives for their dedication and effectiveness in disrupting the illegal arms network. He emphasised that the exercise underscored the importance of intelligence-driven operations in countering the supply of illicit weapons and related criminal activities.
Security officials added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover additional weapons as part of sustained efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of action in Taraba State and surrounding areas.
The development represents one of several recent successes by Nigerian security forces aimed at tackling the proliferation of small arms and reducing the operational capacity of criminal networks that have fuelled banditry, kidnapping and violent crime in parts of the North-East and neighbouring regions.
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