Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have dealt a significant blow to criminal networks operating along the Benue and Taraba state borders following the successful capture of a notorious bandit leader.
The high-profile arrest, which took place on Sunday, December 21, 2025, marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to secure the volatile Kente-Wukari axis.
In a statement released Sunday by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, the military revealed that the operation was executed by troops attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari.
Acting under the mandate of Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, the troops launched a “precision, intelligence-driven operation” at the Vaase Community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. The target, Fidelis Gayama, had long been on the radar of security agencies but had consistently evaded capture until now.
Links to Notorious Criminal Networks
Preliminary military investigations have linked Gayama to some of the region’s most feared criminal elements. According to Lieutenant Muhammad, the suspect is a close associate of Aka Dogo, a notorious armed group leader currently on the wanted list.
The military’s success was further validated by the Nigeria Police Force. Personnel at the Vaase Outpost confirmed that Gayama was already a high-priority suspect wanted by the Beji Police Division in Ukum LGA for various felony offenses.
The arrest is expected to provide valuable intelligence into the operations of bandit groups in the Middle Belt region, as security forces intensify “Operation Whirl Stroke” to restore peace to the farming communities and transport routes connecting Benue and Taraba states.
The military’s success was further validated by the Nigeria Police Force. Personnel at the Vaase Outpost confirmed that Gayama was already a high-priority suspect wanted by the Beji Police Division in Ukum LGA for various felony offenses.
The arrest is expected to provide valuable intelligence into the operations of bandit groups in the Middle Belt region, as security forces intensify “Operation Whirl Stroke” to restore peace to the farming communities and transport routes connecting Benue and Taraba states.
