Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested four suspected members of the Ambazonia rebel group in Taraba State.
The arrests were announced in a statement released on Saturday in Jalingo, by the Brigade’s Acting Spokesperson, Captain Oni Olubodunde, in Jalingo.
According to the statement, the suspects were apprehended on December 18, 2024, at a hotel in the Takum Local Government Area following actionable intelligence.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to involvement in arms proliferation and trading weapons for cocoa with Nigerian collaborators,” the statement read.
Four mobile phones, according to the release, were also recovered from the suspects, who are currently in custody undergoing further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops stationed in the Natilde community of Bantaji district, Wukari Local Government Area, according to the army, intercepted a truck carrying 19 stolen pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The truck, with registration number WKR 66 BB, Taraba State, the soldiers confirmed, was tracked based on intelligence reports.
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Further collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Wukari Division, as pointed out in the statement, led to the recovery of an additional 11 stolen pipelines, bringing the total to 30.
The recovered items, at the time of filing this report, have been handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and appropriate action.
The Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and safeguarding critical national infrastructure.
It also urged citizens to provide timely and accurate information to security agencies to enhance efforts in maintaining peace and security in the region.
