Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have intercepted the wife of notorious criminal kingpin John Gata and uncovered a major arms cache in Amadu Village, Takum Local Government Area, Taraba State.
According to a source at Army Headquarters, actionable intelligence indicated that the suspect’s wife was moving from Amadu Village through Wukari, Kyado, and Zaki-Biam toward Gboko.
“Troops of Sub Sector 1A quickly set up a snap roadblock at Zaki-Biam and intercepted the woman without any incident,” the source said.
The suspect later led the troops to a hidden armoury, where they recovered:
- 13 AK-47 rifles
- 38 magazines
- 690 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition
- 4 hand grenades
The facility was subsequently destroyed to prevent further use by the criminal network.
Troops reportedly returned safely to base, with the security situation in the area described as calm but unpredictable, while civil-military relations remain cordial.
“Troops’ morale and operational readiness continue to remain high as fighting and confidence-building patrols persist in the region,” the source added.
This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by the military to disrupt criminal networks in the region and strengthen security in Taraba.
