Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have raided a suspected terrorist hideout in Peva, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, arresting five persons believed to be associates of a notorious bandit and recovering weapons-related items and ammunition.
The operation was carried out in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, following credible intelligence received by security forces at about 12:30 a.m. regarding the location of the suspected criminal hideout.
The Acting Media Information Officer, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, troops of Sector 1, in collaboration with personnel from Sector 3 of Operation WHIRL STROKE, moved to the identified location and launched a coordinated raid.
However, the suspected terrorists reportedly received advance warning of the troops’ movement and fled the hideout before the soldiers arrived.
The operation led to the arrest of five persons suspected to be associates of the fleeing bandit.
The operation also yielded the recovery of several items believed to be linked to the activities of the criminal group.
Among the items recovered were two AK-47 rifle magazines, 46 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one woodland camouflage jacket, one jungle hat, four charm vests and assorted charms.
The recovered ammunition and other military-related paraphernalia are expected to provide investigators with valuable leads in efforts to establish the identities, networks and movements of the fleeing criminal elements.
The military said the arrests could also assist ongoing operations aimed at tracking down other members of the group and disrupting their activities within the Takum axis.
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The latest operation is part of the sustained intelligence-driven offensive by Operation WHIRL STROKE against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across its Joint Operations Area.
The army said that troops have continued to rely on intelligence gathering, rapid deployment and coordinated operations to locate criminal hideouts, disrupt their logistics and deny them freedom of movement.
Operation WHIRL STROKE reassured residents of Taraba State and other communities within its area of responsibility of its determination to sustain pressure on terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements until lasting peace and security are restored.
It urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains crucial to identifying criminal hideouts and preventing attacks.
The successful raid and subsequent arrests further demonstrate the growing emphasis on intelligence-led operations as security forces intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating across Taraba and neighbouring areas.
