Nigerian troops have dismantled a Boko Haram sleeper cell and arrested eight suspected terrorists during a successful raid in Taraba State.
The operation, carried out by the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke, marks a significant victory in the fight against insurgency in the region.
According to a statement by the Army’s acting Assistant Director of Public Relations, Capt. Olubodunde Oni, the raid took place on September 29, 2024, in Sunkani Ward, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area. The operation targeted the residence of a Boko Haram leader, Tukura Abdul-Kareem, who, along with seven other suspects, was apprehended.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects were planning to establish a sleeper cell in Taraba to launch attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices on civilians and critical infrastructure,” Oni disclosed.
He also revealed that Abdul-Kareem confessed to being involved in Boko Haram operations with his brother, Adamu Abdul-Kareem, who remains at large. During the raid, several items were recovered, including nine mobile phones, identification cards, and suspected controlled substances.
In a separate operation on September 30, troops stationed in Chachanji village, Takum Local Government Area, arrested two women believed to be informants for a notorious kidnapping syndicate. The women, identified as Patience Tersoo and Joy Emmanuel, were reportedly providing information to a criminal gang led by a suspect known as Anyogo. Items seized during the arrest included a mobile phone, a motorcycle, and a calabash.
Brig. Gen. Kingsley Uwa, Commander of the 6 Brigade, commended the troops for their professionalism and the swift action that thwarted a terror plot. He also praised the residents of Taraba for their cooperation, noting, “Together, we will continue to ensure a safer and more secure Taraba and Nigeria at large,” He said.
