Troops of the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke have arrested one suspected kidnap kingpin, Abubakar Bawa, who has long been linked to criminal activities in southern Taraba State. In a statement, the Brigade’s Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Umar Muhammad, said Bawa was captured while attempting to flee from Wukari Local Government Area.
The arrest was made during a clearance mission under Operation Zafin Wuta, aimed at eliminating criminal elements terrorising communities in the area. The military explained that Bawa is believed to be a close associate of Umar Musa, another major kidnapping suspect arrested by the brigade a day earlier, on November 22, 2025.
Preliminary investigations have connected both men to a wider criminal network responsible for several kidnappings, violent assaults, and coordinated criminal activities across southern Taraba.
Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 OPWS, lauded the professionalism and precision demonstrated by the troops while promising that the arrest was an indication of how the operation had smashed up criminal syndicates to return peace to the area.
He reaffirmed the determination of the Brigade to maintain aggressive operations and promised that no criminal would be allowed to evade justice. The Army also assured that investigations into the network of the suspect are ongoing and that troops remain fully vigilant.
They were urged to be observant and pass on authentic information that would assist in continuous security efforts.
