THIS DAWN — The Nigerian Army has recorded another significant breakthrough in its intensified campaign against criminal networks operating across Southern Taraba.
Troops of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) successfully apprehending a suspected kidnap kingpin during a coordinated operation on 23 November 2025.
The latest success forms part of the ongoing Operation Zafin Wuta — a large-scale clearance mission aimed at flushing out bandits, kidnappers, and violent criminal elements from the region.
In a statement signed by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, the suspect was identified as Alhaji Abubakar Bawa.
He was arrested while attempting to escape from Wukari Local Government Area following intensified military pressure.
Preliminary investigations have reportedly linked Bawa to a broader criminal syndicate involved in multiple kidnappings, violent attacks, and coordinated crimes across several communities.
According to the Army, Bawa is a close ally of Umar Musa, another notorious kidnapping mastermind who was arrested by 6 Brigade troops just a day earlier, on 22 November 2025.
Authorities believe the two form part of a high-profile network that has long posed a major security threat in Southern Taraba.
General Uwa commends
Reacting to the development, the Commander of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their professionalism, precision, and sustained operational momentum.
He described the arrest as further proof that Operation Zafin Wuta is achieving its core objective of dismantling entrenched criminal syndicates.
“This arrest is a clear indication that our operations are yielding concrete results,” General Uwa said.
“We remain fully committed to ensuring that no criminal element escapes justice as the operation continues with renewed intensity,” he added.
The Army noted that investigations into Bawa’s network are ongoing, as troops maintain heightened vigilance across the region.
Residents were urged to remain alert and support the military by providing timely and credible information that could aid further operations.
The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation, as 6 Brigade intensifies efforts to restore lasting peace and security to Southern Taraba and its surrounding communities.
