In a major operation aimed at curbing banditry in Nigeria, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have successfully dismantled a notorious bandit camp in Angwan Bala, a community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State. The military raid, carried out on Sunday, resulted in a fierce gun battle that saw one bandit killed and 23 others — including 19 males and 4 females — surrendering to the superior firepower of the troops.
Captain Olubodunde Oni, the Acting Assistant Director of 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, confirmed the success of the operation, which was based on actionable intelligence regarding the movement of suspected bandits. The military unit conducted a fighting patrol to the bandits’ hideout, where they were met with a hail of gunfire as the bandits attempted to resist. The troops, however, responded swiftly and effectively, neutralizing one of the attackers and forcing 23 others to give up without further resistance.
During a subsequent search of the camp, the soldiers recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Among the recovered items were four AK-47 rifles, five AK-47 rifle magazines, 80 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, an English-made pistol, two locally made guns, 28 cutlasses, 16 motorcycles, and 48 daggers and jack knives.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the bandits, originally from Plateau State, had paid ₦1.5 million to a local chief in Amar village to establish the camp. This discovery has provided further insight into the well-organized network of criminal activity operating in the region.
Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to ensuring that Taraba remains inhospitable to terrorists and bandits. He also urged local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies, as part of the ongoing fight to eliminate terrorism and banditry in the region.
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