By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Jan. 4, 2026
In a significant blow to organized crime and insurgency in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have neutralized a major arms cache and intercepted a key associate of notorious criminal kingpin, John Gata. The operation, based on precise intelligence, underscores the military’s evolving strategy to dismantle criminal networks from the ground up.
The breakthrough began with actionable intelligence indicating that the wife of John Gata was moving a critical consignment from Amadu Village in Taraba’s Takum Local Government Area. Her intended route—through Wukari, Kyado, and Zaki-Biam toward Gboko—suggested a link to broader criminal supply chains extending beyond Taraba State.
Acting swiftly on this tip, troops from Sub Sector 1A established a snap roadblock at Zaki-Biam. The operation was executed with precision, leading to the successful and incident-free interception of the suspect. This tactical restraint allowed for follow-on intelligence gathering, a key component of modern counter-insurgency operations.
The detained suspect subsequently cooperated with troops, leading them to a hidden armoury in Amadu Village. The scale of the discovery highlights the formidable threat posed by such networks. The recovered arsenal included:
- 13 AK-47 rifles: The weapon of choice for non-state armed groups across the region, valued for its durability and availability.
- 38 magazines & 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition: This substantial ammunition reserve indicates preparation for sustained engagements, not isolated incidents.
- 4 hand grenades: Weapons that signify a capability for high-impact, terror-inducing attacks on soft targets or security formations.
In a decisive move, the military destroyed the facility on-site. This “denial of resources” tactic is crucial for preventing the immediate reclamation or use of the site by the criminal network, disrupting their operational cycle.
Context and Strategic Significance
This operation is not an isolated event but part of the ongoing Operation Whirl Stroke, a joint task force established to address the complex security challenges—including farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and kidnapping—plaguing Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states. The interception of a kingpin’s associate and the destruction of his armoury represents a dual victory: it degrades logistical capacity and potentially severs key communication and supply links within the network.
The military’s reference to the security situation as “calm but unpredictable” is a candid assessment of the region’s volatility. While this strike is a success, it exists within an environment where criminal and insurgent groups are adaptive and resilient. The maintenance of “cordial civil-military relations” and continued confidence-building patrols are, therefore, as vital as the kinetic operations themselves. Winning local trust is essential for the flow of the kind of actionable intelligence that made this operation possible.
The Army Headquarters confirmed that troops have returned safely to base, with morale and operational readiness remaining high. The continued persistence of fighting and patrols signals a clear intent to maintain pressure and consolidate gains, preventing a power vacuum that rival groups could exploit.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) | Edited by Abiemwense Moru
Original Report
OYS/AMM
