Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, have apprehended four suspected members of the Ambazonia rebel group in Taraba State.
The troops also confirmed the recovery of stolen pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, in the state.
In a statement issued to journalists on Saturday in Jalingo, the state capital, the Acting Spokesperson of the Brigade, Captain Oni Olubodunde, revealed that the suspects were arrested on December 18, 2024, at a hotel in Takum Local Government Area following credible intelligence.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to being involved in arms proliferation, exchanging weapons for cocoa with Nigerian collaborators,” the statement read.
Four mobile phones, according to the statement, were recovered from the suspects, who are now in custody undergoing further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops stationed in the Natilde community of Bantaji District, Wukari Local Government Area, were also said to have intercepted a truck carrying 19 stolen NNPCL pipelines.
The truck, with registration number WKR 66 BB Taraba State, was tracked using actionable intelligence, according to the troops.
Further collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Wukari Division led to the recovery of 11 additional stolen pipelines, bringing the total to 30.
The recovered pipelines, as stated in the release, have been handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and necessary action.
Reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and critical infrastructure, the Brigade urged citizens to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.
