Iliayasu Abdullahi Bah
Joint troops from the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade and Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) Sector 3 have successfully raided several bandit camps in southern Taraba, disrupting a strategic meeting allegedly organized by a wanted criminal leader.
According to military sources, the July 5 operation targeted remote parts of Wukari Local Government Area, believed to be the base of operations for Liamdoo Douglas Adekpe, also known as Bajor, a notorious gang leader.
In a statement released on Monday, Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, said the operation was based on actionable intelligence that guided troops to the hideouts.
“Guided by credible intelligence, our troops executed a rapid assault that forced the bandits to flee, leaving behind valuable items,” the statement read.
The military reported that the camps—used by the syndicate for weapon storage and operational planning—were destroyed during the raid. Five operational motorcycles believed to have been used by the criminals for swift mobility were also recovered.
Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade, confirmed that while Bajor and members of his gang escaped the onslaught, they are now the target of an ongoing manhunt.
He assured the public that the military remains resolute in its efforts to dismantle criminal networks threatening peace and stability in Taraba and surrounding regions.
“The Nigerian Army is committed to using both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to restore lasting peace,” General Uwa stated, while calling for continued support from local communities in the form of timely and credible intelligence.
He added that the raid was part of broader clearance operations aimed at flushing out criminal elements across Taraba State.