In a major breakthrough against criminal elements in Taraba State, troops of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have recovered a cache of arms and military equipment during a cordon-and-search operation in Ikyaior village, Wukari Local Government Area.
In a statement, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations 6 Brigade Nigerian Army Lieutenant Umar Muhammad said the operation, conducted on 6 September 2025, was based on credible intelligence indicating that one Mr. Terhemen Nzagha, popularly known as “Full Fire,” was allegedly providing safe haven for armed criminals at Sabon-Gida Leke, Ikyaior village, located along the Benue–Taraba border.
On arrival at the hideout, the troops conducted a thorough search of the area. While no suspects were apprehended, the operation led to the recovery of a large cache of military-related items. These included five Special Forces face caps, three AK-47 magazines, three FN rifle magazines, three rifle slings, two FN rifle breech blocks and slides, one AK-47 firing mechanism, two FN rifle stocks, two FN rifle springs, a mini-telescopic sight, one AK-47 rifle butt, one FN rifle bag, a badminton bag, two charms, and one flashlight.
The Commander, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army / Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their swift action and professionalism during the operation. He reiterated the Brigade’s commitment to sustaining aggressive operations aimed at denying criminals freedom of action and restoring lasting peace to Taraba State and its environs.
General Uwa further appealed to residents of the state to continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information. He stressed that effective collaboration between the military, other security agencies, and the civilian population remains critical to the success of ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal activities.
The recovery, according to Army sources, marks another step forward in the ongoing operations under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), which has continued to target insurgents, armed bandits, and other criminal networks threatening peace in Taraba and neighbouring states.
