…Nigerian Army encountered the armed group, forcing them into a chaotic retreat toward Fajul village.
JALINGO, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade, Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have recorded another major victory in Taraba State as part of ongoing clearance operations under Operation Lafiya Nakowa, designed to eliminate terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements from the region.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the operation was launched after credible intelligence revealed terrorist hideouts across Badekoshi, Fajul, Kurmi, and Dampar villages in Ibi Local Government Area.
“On 14 October 2025, troops deployed at Tapga Ngasawa village under Dampar District received actionable intelligence on the movements of suspected terrorists. Acting swiftly, the troops conducted a series of clearance operations in the identified areas,” the statement said.
During the raid on Badekoshi, the soldiers encountered the armed group, forcing them into a chaotic retreat toward Fajul village. “The gallant troops pursued the fleeing criminals with superior firepower, compelling them to abandon their positions and escape deeper into the forest,” Muhammad added.
A detailed search of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, one round of 7.62mm special ammunition, five rounds of blank ammunition, two fragmental jackets, two military camouflage uniforms, and a Jincheng motorcycle believed to have been stolen during a previous attack on Tapga village.
Commander of the 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their professionalism and sustained effort, urging them to maintain the offensive until “all criminal elements are completely wiped out from Taraba State.”
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all law-abiding citizens and will continue to collaborate with other security agencies and local communities to achieve lasting peace,” the statement affirmed.
This latest success follows a similar operation on October 1, 2025, when troops foiled a planned terrorist attack at Tor-Ikyeghgba village, neutralising two suspects. “On that occasion, troops engaged the terrorists along the powerline axis with superior firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of two,” Muhammad recalled.
Security experts believe the Army’s renewed aggressiveness under Operation Lafiya Nakowa signals a decisive shift toward reclaiming volatile rural areas from armed groups, restoring confidence among residents of Ibi and surrounding districts.
