Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have neutralised two suspected armed bandits and recovered an AK-47 rifle during a tactical raid in Taraba State.
The successful operation took place on May 24, 2026, in Akate District, located within the Donga Local Government Area. According to military officials, the intervention was triggered by credible intelligence reports of gunfire echoing from a forest near the “Welcome to Donga” signpost.
Troops mobilized to the area, where they encountered the armed assailants and engaged them in a fierce gun duel.
In an official statement released on May 25, 2026, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, confirmed the fatalities and detailed the weaponry seized from the criminal elements.
“During the exchange, two of the suspected criminals were neutralised,” Lieutenant Muhammad stated. “Items recovered from the operation included one AK-47 rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two AK-47 magazines, two mobile phones, and other personal items.”
Speaking on the success of the raid, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, Commander of the 6 Brigade NA and Sector 3 OPWS, commended the troops for their swiftness and professionalism.
He emphasised that the operational momentum must be sustained in line with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to completely eradicate criminality across Taraba State.
Brigadier General Akaliro also noted that the military’s strict reward and sanction policy would apply to the gallant troops involved in the encounter.
“The Brigade remains resolute in its commitment to pursuing criminal elements and maintaining sustained pressure on them until all threats to peace and security are eliminated,” Akaliro affirmed, reassuring residents of their safety.
The operation is part of an ongoing, intensified effort by the Nigerian Army to flush out bandits and restore long-term peace to vulnerable communities within the region.
