Trops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have apprehended four suspected Ambazonia rebels and recovered stolen properties belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) in Taraba State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops on December 18, 2024, tracked and apprehended the four suspects at a hotel in Takum.
He said that Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of the Ambazonia rebel group, allegedly involved in arms trafficking and exchange for cocoa with Nigerian collaborators. Four mobile phones were recovered from the suspects, who are currently in custody for further interrogation.
In a separate operation, troops stationed at Natilde community in Bantaji District of Wukari Local Government Area intercepted a truck with registration number WKR 66 BB (Taraba State), carrying 19 stolen NNPCL pipeline components.
Subsequent efforts, in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Wukari Command, led to the recovery of an additional 11 pipeline segments, bringing the total to 30.
The recovered items have been handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The arrests were part of a series of successful operations aimed at curbing criminal activities in the state.
