Army Tightens the Noose: Second Kidnap Kingpin Falls in 24 Hours as Zafin Wuta Sweeps Taraba
By Paul Ebi
Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have recorded yet another major breakthrough in the intensifying Operation Zafin Wuta, as they captured a notorious kidnap kingpin during a coordinated operation in Southern Taraba.
The arrest, carried out on 23 November 2025, occurred as the suspect attempted to flee Wukari Local Government Area. The man, identified as Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, is believed to be a top-level criminal collaborator and close associate of Mr. Umar Musa, another infamous kidnapping mastermind apprehended by the same troops just a day earlier.
Preliminary findings indicate that both men play central roles in a broad and well-structured criminal syndicate linked to multiple kidnappings, violent assaults, and coordinated attacks across the region.
Reacting to the operation, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 OPWS, praised the troops for their precision and resilience. He stated that Bawa’s arrest “is a clear indication that Operation Zafin Wuta is achieving its intended objective of dismantling criminal syndicates and restoring security to affected communities.
He vowed that the ongoing clearance operations would only intensify, emphasizing that no criminal will escape justice under the brigade’s current momentum.
The latest arrest strengthens the Nigerian Army’s resolve to purge Southern Taraba of criminal networks and restore lasting peace. Troops remain on high alert as interrogation deepens and investigations expand into the suspect’s wider operational links.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and continue providing actionable intelligence to support ongoing operations.
The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing further interrogation.
