Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke, arrested a suspected gunrunner in Taraba State and recovered six machine guns.
Security operatives intercepted the suspect at a riverbank in Ibi Local Government Area after receiving credible intelligence. He was travelling in a Peugeot 504 when troops stopped and arrested him.
Weapons Recovered
Soldiers recovered six medium-calibre machine guns during the operation. They also found cash, mobile phones, charms and other items believed to have ritual significance.
Military sources confirmed that authorities have taken the suspect into custody. Investigators are now questioning him to trace the source of the weapons and identify their intended destination.
Army Commends Inter-Agency Collaboration
Speaking while presenting the recovered items to journalists, the Commander of 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Akaliro, attributed the breakthrough to coordinated intelligence efforts among security agencies operating in the state.
He urged residents of Taraba to support security operations by providing timely and credible information, assuring that informants would remain anonymous if their intelligence proves useful.
Akaliro reaffirmed that the operation aligns with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to eliminate criminal activities and maintain stability across Taraba and surrounding areas.
Ongoing Investigation
The Army described the recovered firearms as capable of causing significant destruction if left in the wrong hands. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to trace the supply chain of the weapons and identify potential collaborators.
Operation Whirl Stroke is a multi-agency security initiative aimed at tackling armed violence and criminal networks in parts of North-Central and North-East Nigeria. More details about the Nigerian Army’s operations can be found on the official website of the Nigerian Army.
Security operations continue across Taraba as authorities intensify efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms in the region.
