A suspected kidnapper was apprehended while praying inside the Takum Central Mosque in Taraba State.
The arrest took place during Assar prayers on Friday, according to a local resident, Dauda Mai Dawa. The arrest was part of an ongoing crackdown on criminal activities in the region.
On the same day, security forces arrested 13 other suspects along the Takum-Maraban Baissa road as part of broader operations in the area.
In a related development, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of the Chief of Chanchangi Chiefdom and his son was also captured by troops from 6 Brigade/Sector 3 of Operation WHIRL STROKE, in collaboration with other security agencies. A total of 15 other suspected kidnappers were detained, and several arms and ammunition were recovered.
Captain Oni Olubodunde, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, disclosed that on August 18, 2024, troops raided a criminal hideout in Takum LGA, resulting in the arrest of David Musa, a suspected kidnapper with links to a notorious kingpin known as “SKIN THE BODY.”
Further operations on August 20, 2024, led to the arrest of two suspected gunrunners, James Nuhu and Dan-Asabe Ango, in Wukari Local Government Area. The suspects confessed to their involvement in multiple criminal activities in the region. They also revealed that a man named Ibrahim Philemon serves as the syndicate’s armourer, responsible for storing weapons and managing the proceeds from their illegal operations.
