In a significant breakthrough for security forces, troops of the Nigerian Army have apprehended a notorious bandit leader responsible for a wave of kidnappings and armed robberies along the border between Benue and Taraba States.
Operation Whirl Stroke Strikes in Ukum
The arrest was executed on Sunday, December 21, 2025, by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari. These troops operate under the 6 Brigade, Sector III of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS). The operation targeted the Vaase Community in the Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
Acting spokesperson for the 6 Brigade, Lieutenant Unar Muhammad, confirmed the arrest of the suspect identified as Fidelis Gayama. Lieutenant Muhammad described Gayama as a "high-value" suspect who had been on the wanted list of security agencies for a considerable time.
Links to Wanted Criminals and Reign of Terror
Preliminary investigations conducted by the army have uncovered that Gayama is closely associated with Aka Dogo, a wanted leader of an armed criminal group. The military believes Gayama served as the ringleader of a criminal network that specialized in terrorizing travelers and communities.
His gang's area of operation included the Kente-Wukari Road and adjoining border areas between Benue and Taraba, making the route perilous for citizens. The arrest was further validated by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the Vaase Outpost, who confirmed that Gayama was among individuals declared wanted by the Beji Police Division in Ukum LGA.
Next Steps and Broader Security Context
According to the official statement, the suspect is currently in military custody and will be handed over to the appropriate authority for a comprehensive investigation and prosecution in line with the law.
This arrest occurs against a backdrop of persistent violence in Nigeria's north-central region. Factors such as population growth and competition over land resources have often escalated into broader criminality and revenge attacks between communities. The region continues to grapple with a complex mix of banditry, kidnappings, and armed assaults, alongside the prolonged conflict against Boko Haram in the northeast.
The successful operation by OPWS troops marks a critical step in dismantling criminal networks that have plagued the Benue-Taraba axis, offering a measure of relief to affected communities.
