Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke have stepped up their offensive across Taraba State, achieving a string of successes that include destroying bandit camps, eliminating armed elements, recovering weapons, and arresting a key suspect linked to regional criminal networks.
On 2 December 2025, soldiers executed a targeted clearance mission under Operation Zafin Wuta in Shiid, Agia, and Tyozua communities in Takum LGA, acting on credible intelligence about armed groups operating around the Tor-Tser axis. As troops advanced toward the mountainous hideouts, the bandits abandoned their camps and fled deeper into the terrain. The soldiers searched and subsequently destroyed the hideouts, which the criminals had previously boasted were unreachable. In Tyozua, fleeing fighters set fire to a wooden bridge to slow troop movement, but the soldiers pushed through and drove them across the power line into neighbouring Benue State. One suspect, Dahiru Maigari, was arrested and is undergoing investigation.
In a separate action on 4 December, troops on fighting patrols around Karim Lamido came under fire near Usmanu from armed elements concealed around Wudompi Community. The soldiers quickly returned fire, neutralising two attackers. A sweep of the area yielded an AK-47 rifle and 21 rounds of ammunition. No troop casualties were recorded. The gunmen are believed to be part of the Karimjo faction seeking to regroup in the area. Security in Karim Lamido remains stable, with troops maintaining heightened vigilance.
Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 OPWS, praised the troops for their professionalism and bravery. He said the operations prove that no terrain is beyond the Army’s reach and reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to relentlessly pursuing criminals and maintaining peace across Taraba State.
