A search of the hideout yielded a large cache of lethal weapons, including 13 AK-47 rifles, 38 magazines, 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and four hand grenades.
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have intercepted the wife of a notorious Taraba-based criminal kingpin, John Gata, and uncovered a significant arms cache hidden in Amadu village, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Military sources confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria that the operation followed actionable intelligence indicating that the suspect’s wife was transporting herself along a route spanning Amadu Village, Wukari, Kyado and Zaki-Biam, with Gboko as her destination.
Acting swiftly, troops of Sub-Sector 1A mounted a snap roadblock at Zaki-Biam, where they successfully intercepted the woman without resistance.
According to a senior source at Army Headquarters who spoke to the NAN on Sunday, the suspect subsequently led troops to her husband’s concealed armoury located within Amadu village.
A search of the hideout yielded a large cache of lethal weapons, including 13 AK-47 rifles, 38 magazines, 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and four hand grenades.
Military authorities said the facility was immediately destroyed at the site to prevent its reuse by the criminal network and other armed groups operating in the area.
The source confirmed that all troops involved in the operation returned safely to base. While noting that the overall security situation in the area remains calm.
He added that civil-military relations in the area remain cordial.
“Troops’ morale and operational readiness continue to remain high as fighting and confidence-building patrols persist in the region,” the source said.