Army Apprehends Notorious Kidnap Kingpin in Southern Taraba
The Nigerian Army has achieved another significant breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against criminal elements with the arrest of a suspected kidnap kingpin in Taraba State. Troops from the 6 Brigade, operating under Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), captured the suspect identified as Alhaji Abubakar Bawa in the southern region of the state.
Operation Zafin Wuta Yields Results
According to an official statement released on Monday by the Brigade's Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, the arrest occurred during Operation Zafin Wuta. This clearance mission specifically targets armed groups that have been terrorizing communities across the region. The troops successfully intercepted Bawa on November 23, 2025, as he attempted to flee from the Wukari Local Government Area.
Security sources have revealed that Bawa is a close associate of Umar Musa, another alleged kidnapping mastermind who was arrested by troops just a day earlier on November 22. Preliminary investigations conducted by the Army indicate that both men are connected to a broader criminal network responsible for:
- Numerous kidnappings for ransom
- Violent attacks on communities
- Organized criminal activities across the region
Army Leadership Commends Troops, Vows Continued Operations
The Commander of the 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, praised the troops for their professionalism and dedication during the operation. He emphasized that the success of Operation Zafin Wuta demonstrates significant progress in the Army's mission to dismantle criminal syndicates and restore peace to affected communities.
General Uwa reaffirmed the Army's commitment to sustaining aggressive clearance operations, stating clearly that no criminal element would be allowed to escape justice. He added that troops remain on high alert as investigations into Bawa's criminal network continue. The Brigade has also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to support ongoing security efforts.
Escaped Schoolchildren Provide Glimmer of Hope
In a related development that highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's educational institutions, fifty of the more than 300 children abducted by gunmen from a Catholic school have managed to escape their captors. The Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed this positive development in a statement issued on Sunday.
The organization reported that fifty pupils had escaped between Friday and Saturday and have since been reunited with their parents. This escape comes after gunmen raided St Mary's co-education school in Niger state on Friday, taking 303 children and 12 teachers in one of the largest mass kidnappings recorded in Nigeria.
The abduction at St Mary's, which affected boys and girls aged between eight and 18 years, represents almost half of the school's total student population of 629. This incident occurred just days after gunmen stormed a secondary school in neighboring Kebbi state, abducting 25 girls. These consecutive attacks have heightened security fears across Africa's most populous nation, prompting a wave of school closures in various parts of the country.
