Troops of the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army under Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered six machine guns in Taraba State.
The troops said the suspect was intercepted at a riverbank in Ibi Local Government Area following actionable intelligence shared among security agencies. they said he was reportedly travelling in a Peugeot 504 vehicle at the time of his arrest.
Weapons Recovered
The Army added that six medium-calibre machine guns were seized during the operation. Other items allegedly recovered include cash, mobile phones, charms and substances believed to have ritual significance.
Military sources say the suspect remains in custody and is currently being interrogated to determine the origin of the weapons and 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.
