Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops have arrested the second-in-command to a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Auta, alongside his wife in Gombe State following an intelligence-led tracking operation across multiple locations.

Sources said the suspects, identified as Bala, popularly known as “Pakapaka,” and his wife, Zulaha Bala, were intercepted after fleeing from Dajin Madam Forest in Plateau State.

According to the sources, the arrests were the result of sustained intelligence surveillance and coordinated ground tracking by security operatives targeting fleeing members of the criminal network.

The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to determine their level of involvement in the group’s activities and possible connections with other cells operating within and outside the region.

In a related development, troops conducted follow-up patrols around Bayar village in the Duguri axis after intelligence indicated that the main bandit kingpin had fled into the area.

However, no contact was made during the search operation.

Security sources said troops have continued to dominate the general area with sustained patrols aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of movement and disrupting their operational networks across Plateau, Taraba, and adjoining states.

Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation

Troops rescue 12 kidnapped victims, arrest kingpin’s aides in Plateau–Taraba forest operations

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops conducting ongoing clearance operations under Operation Wutan Daji have rescued 12 kidnapped victims and arrested key associates of a fleeing bandit leader during coordinated offensives across forested areas linking Plateau and Taraba States.

A military source said the operations, carried out on April 15 and 16, involved troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade in conjunction with an Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) tactical team.

According to the source, the operations were conducted in the Dajin Madam and Kumbodoro forest axis, spanning parts of Plateau and Taraba States.

The source said the sustained offensive led to the recovery of 12 kidnapped victims who escaped from their captors during the pressure mounted by troops.

The victims were subsequently taken into custody for profiling before being moved to an Internally Displaced Persons facility in Fukuk.

Troops also recovered a Dane gun, a fabricated AK-47 rifle and a power bank during the operation.

Troops rescue 12 kidnapped victims, arrest kingpin’s aides in Plateau–Taraba forest operations

Troops rescue four kidnapped victims in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 2 under Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), in collaboration with Combat Support Infantry Battalion XIV on Operation Wutan Daji, have rescued four kidnapped victims in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security sources said the rescue operation was carried out at about 8:20 a.m. on April 15 following a confrontation with suspected terrorists in Kukawa community.

According to the sources, the troops made contact with the armed elements and engaged them in a firefight, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee the scene.

“The troops successfully rescued four kidnapped victims, who have since been reunited with their families,” the sources said.

They added that troops are currently dominating the general area and have intensified operations to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities.

Troops rescue four kidnapped victims in Plateau