Nigerian Army arrests suspected gunrunners, recovers ammunition in Taraba

Crime Diary

ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army / Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari in Taraba State, North‑Central Nigeria, have arrested two suspected gunrunners and recovered 444 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

The suspects — Mr Wisdom Soomga, 32, from Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, and Mr Elisha Danladi, 38, a native of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State — were intercepted while riding on a motorcycle during a routine stop‑and‑search operation along the Wukari–Ikyaior Road on March 19, 2026.

According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Army and signed by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, additional items recovered from the suspects included ₦29,200 cash, two mobile phones, ATM cards, charms, and other personal belongings.

Authorities confirmed that the suspects are currently being interrogated to determine the source of the ammunition, their network of collaborators, and the intended destination of the weapons. The Army stressed that the operation underscores its commitment to curbing arms proliferation and dismantling criminal supply chains fueling insecurity in the region.

The statement further reiterated that routine patrols and stop‑and‑search operations remain critical to maintaining security in Taraba and neighbouring states, while urging communities to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies.