Nigerian Army detains five suspected armed criminals

The Nigerian Army announced that soldiers from the 6 Brigade, Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), based at Forward Operating Base Karim Lamido, arrested five suspected armed criminals on 4 June 2026. The arrests followed a distress call about an attack by criminal elements on communities in the local government area.

Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, said the troops moved quickly to the scene.

When they arrived, they were met with gunfire from unidentified assailants. The soldiers responded with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to scatter in different directions. The troops then chased the fleeing suspects and captured five individuals.

The seized items included two motorcycles, daggers, machetes, various charms, gunpowder, and five mobile phones.

Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commander of the 6 Brigade, Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, praised the troops for their professionalism, bravery, and valor during the operation.

He reiterated the Chief of Army Staff’s directive that all personnel remain vigilant, continue efforts to eliminate criminal elements, and restrict their freedom of action within the area of responsibility.

General Akaliro also assured residents of Taraba State of the brigade’s steadfast commitment to pursuing criminal elements wherever they may be hiding and to maintaining continuous pressure on all threats to peace and security until normalcy is fully restored across the state.