PICTORIAL: Troops Nab Wanted Bandits, Fake Army Officer, Recover Ammunition In Taraba

In a string of coordinated military operations across Taraba State, troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under Operation LAFIYAN JAMA’A and Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested a wanted bandit and a notorious military impostor, while recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni, on Friday.

According to the statement, the operations, which spanned Lau, Ardo-Kola, Yorro, Bali, Gassol, and Donga local government areas of the State, were part of efforts to flush out criminal elements threatening peace in the state.

On April 16, troops responded swiftly to a distress call from a local hunter who had discovered a suspected bandits’ camp at Dutsen Kachalla in Lainde, Lau LGA. The criminals reportedly fled into the mountains upon sighting the soldiers. In their escape, they left behind critical items, including an AK-47 magazine, an AK-47 rifle butt, military headgear, and a National ID card bearing the name Adamu Umaru Jauro.

Just days later, on April 19, troops arrested a notorious suspect identified as Yusuf Hammadu, also known as Dogo, in Lainde Jessy, Lau LGA. He had been on the radar of security forces for a string of kidnappings and ransom demands across Jalingo, Ardo-Kola, Lau, and Yorro. During interrogation, he confessed to being part of a criminal syndicate that orchestrated several high-profile abductions in the state.

“In a separate operation on April 22, troops apprehended one Richard Ongu, who had been impersonating a serving Major of the Nigerian Army. He allegedly claimed to be attached to 20 Model Battalion in Gashaka and introduced himself as the Officer Commanding the Forward Operating Base in Bali,” the statement continued.

Further investigations revealed that Ongu was a discharged Flight Sergeant of the Nigerian Air Force, separated from Service in November 2019. The suspect is accused of duping civilians in Bali and Gassol LGAs with false promises of military recruitment, obtaining ₦1.6 million for the supply of agricultural produce, and fraudulently exchanging a Nissan Jeep for a ₦5.2 million Toyota Corolla. He also tried to illegally obtain firearms for community leaders.

“In a joint operation with operatives from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on April 24, troops raided Jatau-Nyimu village in Donga LGA. The raid led to the recovery of 86 rounds of 5.6MM ammunition, a Tarvor magazine, four cartridges, a Beofeng radio, three single-barrel guns, and two military camouflage uniforms,” the statement read.

Reacting to the string of successes, Commander of 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, lauded the troops for their “professionalism and resilience” during the operations.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to restoring peace in Taraba State and called on the public to support military efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence.

General Uwa also cautioned residents against falling victim to fake recruitment schemes, stressing that “enlistment into the Nigerian Army is voluntary, free and merit-based.”

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