Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke have arrested a suspected gun runner and recovered two AK‑47 rifles, 969 rounds of ammunition, ₦2,440,000 in cash and other items during a stop‑and‑search operation in Sarkin Kudu, Ibi Local Government Area, Taraba State.
The operation took place on February 21, 2026, as part of ongoing security efforts by the Nigerian Army to intercept illegal firearms and sustain peace within Taraba State.
The troops were conducting sentry duty when they intercepted a vehicle matching details from credible and actionable intelligence.
The intercepted vehicle was an Audi with registration number RBC 798 DV (Abuja). The driver and occupant was later identified by the military as a middle‑aged man from Numan Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant Umar Muhammad stated that after stopping the vehicle, troops conducted a thorough search that led to the recovery of the following:
- Two AK‑47 rifles
- 197 empty magazines
- One box of 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition containing 250 rounds
- Fourteen packs of 9mm Parabellum ammunition containing 700 rounds
- Nineteen rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition
- ₦2,440,000 in cash
Additional items seized included a wallet containing four identification cards and four ATM cards, an Android phone, an Itel keypad phone, a power bank, eight bottles of perfume, a rechargeable touch light, and assorted local charms.
The suspect was identified as Mr. Monday Reuben, 48 years old, and he was taken into custody along with the recovered items.
Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Micheal Akaliro, Commander of 6 Brigade/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, acknowledged the troops’ conduct and emphasised that the suspect and all seized materials would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and legal action.
The interception and arrest reflect the Nigerian Army’s enforcement activities aimed at countering the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition within the region.
The sizable cache of ammunition and firearms recovered highlights the scale of items found during the operation.
The involvement of the 6 Brigade/Sector 3 under Operation Whirl Stroke demonstrates ongoing military interventions in Taraba State as part of nationwide security operations to disrupt criminal elements and improve public safety.
