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Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), working in joint coordination with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected arms trafficker and recovered an arms cache in Wukari, Taraba State.
The operation, conducted at the Ambassador Roundabout in Wukari Local Government Area, led to the arrest of 29-year-old Bulyami Shuaib, a native of Belango Village in Karim Lamido LGA. Security operatives believe he is a key figure in a wider gunrunning network operating in the region.
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According to a statement by Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, the joint team recovered 362 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1 round of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and ₦842,100 in suspected proceeds. Also seized were a black Jing Cheng rubber motorcycle, one Redmi Android phone, one itel phone, two silver rings, and a First Bank ATM card.
The suspect is currently in custody and is reportedly cooperating with investigators, providing intelligence expected to support future operations.
Commander 6 Brigade/Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa said, “This successful operation affirms our resolve to disrupt criminal supply chains and ensure public safety. We remain committed to purging Taraba of violent elements.”
He called on citizens to support security forces with credible, timely information to help sustain regional peace and stability.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army’s 82 Division has denied widespread allegations that its personnel were involved in looting, harassment, and the burning of homes in Umualumaku, a community in Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
In a statement by Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the Division described the reports as false, malicious, and deliberately orchestrated by criminal actors to tarnish the image of the military and disrupt public trust.
“The Division wishes to state categorically that no soldier under its command was involved in such misconduct,” the statement said. “Our troops operate under strict adherence to the code of conduct and rules of engagement and maintain the highest standards of professionalism in all military operations.”
The Army suggested that the allegations were fabricated by elements seeking to destabilise the peace and cast aspersions on the credibility of its operations in the region. It reaffirmed its commitment to lawful engagement and civil-military cooperation.
82 Division spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni said, “this is a classic ploy by criminals to erode the trust we’ve built with local communities. We remain committed to working with security agencies, civil society, and traditional leaders to identify and prosecute the real perpetrators of violence.”
The Division also appealed to the media to verify reports before publication, warning that disinformation remains a powerful tool used by non-state actors to undermine peacebuilding efforts in conflict-prone zones.