Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, in collaboration with troops of Sector 2 Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), under Operation Lafiyan Jamaa, have arrested a suspected bandit leader and a gunrunner.

Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the 6 Brigade, Olubodunde Oni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Oni said, “On 20 March 2025, troops apprehended a suspected member of a high-profile gunrunning syndicate in the Donga Local Government Area. Acting on actionable intelligence from a reliable informant, troops laid an ambush and successfully arrested Alhaji Mansur Mohammad in possession of 1,200,000 Naira, intended for the illegal procurement of arms. Preliminary investigations revealed that the funds were traced back to sponsors in Bauchi State.

“Furthermore, on the same day, troops arrested a suspected high-profile bandit leader, Adamu Yakubu (aka No Money No Guy). Intelligence reports linked the suspect to several cases of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and violent crimes across Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State and Southern Taraba. Notably, the suspect and six of his associates were allegedly involved in a brutal attack on 10 March 2025 at Tse-Shiikaa village in Katsina-Ala LGA, where two persons were killed, one sustained life-threatening injuries, and others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot and machete wounds.”

Mr Oni also stated that the troops arrested the suspects during series of raids and destructions of criminal enclaves in Taraba and Plateau states, where they also recovered motorcycles, a passport and other dangerous weapons.

He said the troops, in a decisive offensive on Achalle, a border community between Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State and Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Saturday, conducted a clearance operation, during which they dislodged bandits, and “recovered one motorcycle and continued their advance to another major bandit stronghold.”

“At this second location, believed to be a critical hub with over 70 huts, troops encountered resistance but forced the bandits to abandon the camp due to the overwhelming firepower of the advancing forces. The troops recovered another motorcycle and a passport belonging to one Muhammadu Dahiru, suspected to be linked to the criminal network. The entire camp was subsequently destroyed and set ablaze.

“In a related development, on 16 March 2025, based on credible intelligence, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army raided the residence of two notorious gunrunners, identified as Irimiya Aboki and Tanko Adamu (aka Arewa Mafia) in Mararaba Donga, Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State. Although the suspects evaded arrest, a thorough search of their residence led to the recovery of 4 pistols, one pump-action rifle, and 6 cartridges.”

Stating that the troops also advanced to the Dutsen Zaki high ground, where they cleared the area and neutralised several other threats, Mr Oni stated that the Commander, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 OPWS, Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops’ commitment and professionalism. 

Mr Uwa, who assured the people of Taraba of the brigade’s resolve to continue the aggressive operations until banditry and other criminal activities were decisively curbed, urged the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.