Troops of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have intercepted the wife of notorious Taraba-based criminal kingpin John Gata and uncovered a major weapons cache in Amadu Village, Takum Local Government Area, Taraba State.

Military sources confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the operation followed actionable intelligence indicating the suspect’s wife was traveling along a route spanning Amadu Village, Wukari, Kyado, and Zaki-Biam, heading toward Gboko.

Interception and Discovery

Troops of Sub-Sector 1A quickly mounted a roadblock at Zaki-Biam, intercepting the woman without resistance. She subsequently led the soldiers to her husband’s hidden armoury in Amadu Village.

A search of the facility revealed a significant cache of weapons, including:

• 13 AK-47 rifles
• 38 magazines
• 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition
• 4 hand grenades

Military authorities destroyed the armoury on-site to prevent further use by Gata’s network or other armed groups.

Security Situation and Military Readiness

The source confirmed that all troops returned safely to base and that the overall security situation in the area remains calm. Civil-military relations reportedly remain cordial, with high morale and operational readiness among soldiers continuing through patrols and confidence-building measures in the region.