In a decisive operation to combat rising criminal activities, troops from the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) dismantled a high-profile kidnapping syndicate operating in Jalingo and Lau Local Government Areas of Taraba State. The successful raid, which spanned multiple days, resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of key evidence.
Based on a credible intelligence report, troops apprehended the first two suspects, Ali Idi and Haruna Umar, on October 22, 2024, at a hotel in the Mayo Dassa area of Jalingo, where they were hiding. Searches of their mobile phones revealed incriminating images, including one of Haruna wielding an AK-47 rifle alongside another person. Following this, investigations led troops to the gang’s hideout at Kona Mountain in Jalingo, where the gang leader, Dahiru Idi, also known as “Yellow,” was arrested on October 23, 2024. During interrogation, he confessed to recently kidnapping three individuals and extorting a ransom of six million Naira before their release.
Recovered items included charms, rings, mobile phones, and narcotics. Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade, commended the people of Taraba for their support and stressed the military’s dedication to safeguarding lives and property, urging vigilance and cooperation from the public.
This successful operation highlights the Nigerian Army’s ongoing commitment to eradicating terrorism and ensuring public safety in Taraba and across the nation.
