Troops Arrest Suspected Boko Haram Terrorist And Kidnapper In Taraba

Troops from the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) captured a suspected kidnapping and a Boko Haram terrorist in Taraba State, as well as seized weaponry.

Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, announced in a statement on Friday, December 27, 2024, that one of the suspects, Musa Suito, had been apprehended in connection with the kidnapping of a district head in Jalingo.

Suito, according to the spokesperson, is a member of a vigilante group that provides security to high-profile individuals.

Nura Yakubu, a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, was detained in the state’s Bali Local Government Area for harboring terrorists and kidnapping a businessman named Arinze.

“In continuation of its unwavering commitment to enhancing security and combating terrorism, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have recorded another significant operational success in Taraba State,” the statement read.

“Following the unfortunate kidnapping of a district head within Jalingo Local Government Area on 27 November 2024 and his subsequent release after payment of ransom, troops intensified intelligence-driven operations to track and apprehend the perpetrators. This effort led to the arrest of Musa Suito on 18 December 2024, in the Jalingo metropolis.

“The suspect, a member of a Vigilante Group providing security services to prominent and wealthy individuals, exploited his position to gather information on potential targets for kidnappers. Items recovered from him included one Dane gun and two cartridges.

“In another operation conducted on 20 December 2024, troops acting on credible intelligence arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Nura Yakubu, at Garba Chede in Bali Local Government Area.

“Investigations revealed that the suspect, a food vendor, was involved in harbouring Boko Haram terrorists deployed to Taraba State for terrorist activities.

“Further findings linked him and his gang to the kidnapping of a businessman, Mr Arinze, and the son of Alhaji Ibrahim sometime ago in the Garbatau community of Bali Local Government Area.

“6 Brigade Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its mission to ensure the safety and security of lives and property across Taraba State and beyond. We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance the fight against criminal elements.”