In Clearance Operation, Troops Destroy Bandits’ Camps, Recover Arms in Taraba
Troops of the Nigerian Army under 6 Brigade/Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have carried out a two-day clearance operation that led to the destruction of multiple bandits’ camps and recovery of arms in the southern part of the state.
The operation, which took place between 19 and 20 June 2025, was led by the Commander of 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, and executed by troops from the newly established Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari.
According to a statement by Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the troops advanced through Wukari and Takum Local Government Areas, targeting known bandit hideouts based on credible intelligence.
On the first day of the operation, troops moved along the High Tension route through Chonku to Gor Road, covering several villages including Lortema, Gudu, Mbayenge, and Teyotima in Wukari LGA. Key terrains such as river lines, high grounds, and abandoned settlements were methodically searched.
Read Also:
At Teyotima village, where intelligence suggested that the mother of a notorious criminal known as “YELLOW” resided, troops conducted a search but made no arrests or recoveries. In a follow-up operation in Ikayior village—home to another wanted criminal, AKIKI UTIV, also known as “FULL FIRE”—troops discovered and dismantled a bandits’ camp. During the search, 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition loaded in an AK-47 magazine were recovered before the camp was destroyed.
On 20 June, the clearance operation continued through Chanchangi, Jam Kaanan, Hingir, Ukum, and Nbaume villages in Takum LGA. While no contact was made in those locations, troops encountered hostile fire at Mande Atsager, believed to be the hideout of another wanted bandit leader, VERIOR JOHN GATA.
The troops returned fire, overpowering the criminals who fled into the forest, leaving their camp behind. Upon searching the area, soldiers uncovered a building with four built-in detention cells believed to have been used to hold kidnap victims awaiting ransom.
They also discovered a shrine with a human skull, indicating suspected ritual practices linked to the gang’s operations. The camp was subsequently destroyed.
Brigadier General Uwa praised the troops for their discipline and tactical efficiency during the operation. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to uproot all criminal elements threatening peace and security in Taraba State.
He further lauded the local communities for their cooperation and urged residents to maintain vigilance and report any suspicious activity to the nearest security popost.
By PRNigeria
