Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commander of the newly established Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari, led troops of the newly established Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari in a successful two-day clearance operation across parts of Southern Taraba in an ongoing effort to eliminate criminal elements that undermine the peace and security of communities in Taraba State.
The intensive operation, which was conducted in Wukari and Takum Local Government Areas between June 19 and June 20, 2025, targeted known bandit communities and alleged criminal hideouts.
On June 19, 2025, troops moved along the High Tension route in Wukari LGA, passing through towns like Lortema, Gudu, Mbayenge, and Teyotima.
Strategic areas like river lines, high grounds, abandoned settlements, and known terrorist hideouts were thoroughly searched, according to an acting assistant director, Army Public Relations, Captain Olubodunde Oni, of the 6 Brigade, Nigeria Army.
To prevent the state’s Wukari Local Government Area from destroying law and order, this operation comes after the Nigerian Army’s forward operating base was established in the state’s Wukari Local Government Area.
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Credible information about the location of Teyotima village’s mother, Angba (FNU), is well known as “Yellow.” The suspect is alleged to have a refuge in the village. No weapons or suspects were discovered, despite the cordoned off and searched area.
Further operations expanded to Ikayior village, where Akiki Utiv, alias “Full Fire,” is a known wanted criminal. A bandit camp was discovered and destroyed within the village by soldiers.
14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition loaded in an AK-47 magazine were recovered after conducting a search of the premises. In order to stop criminal elements from using the camp in the future, the camp was later destroyed.
Without making any enemy contact, troops continued clearing operations through Chanchangi, Jam Kaanan, Hingir, Ukum, and Nbaume villages in Takum LGA on June 20.
However, troops encountered hostile fire at Mande Atsager, which was Verior John Gata’s wanted bandit leader’s hideout. The bandits fled into the nearby forest and abandoned their camp after being overrun by the troops’ superior firepower.
A search of the location turned up a building with four in-built detention cells, one of which is thought to have been used to hold kidnapped victims pending ransom payments. A human skull-containing shrine was also discovered by soldiers, which suggests that occult practices are employed to support criminal activity. The camp was completely destroyed, and the entire area was cleared.
