Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have rescued Engineer Joshua Saleh, a lecturer at Taraba State University, who was abducted along the Chinkai–Kente–Wukari road on July 31.
The rescue operation, which was carried out in the early hours of Saturday, August 2, was the result of a coordinated effort between troops of Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), and the DSS.
In a statement issued by the Army on Sunday in Jalingo, the troops acted on credible intelligence and launched a targeted search-and-rescue mission across key locations including Kente, Sondi 1 and 2, Yaku, and the Warawa general area in Wukari Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the troops encountered the abductors and engaged them in a fierce gun duel, forcing them to abandon their victim and flee.
“Engineer Saleh was found unharmed and has since been reunited with his family,” the statement added.
Commander 6 Brigade/Sector 3 OPWS, Brig.-Gen. Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their gallantry and swift response.
He also lauded the synergy between the Army and DSS, noting that the operation demonstrated high-level professionalism and coordination among security agencies.
Uwa reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to the protection of lives and property in Taraba and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The rescue comes amid renewed military operations across Taraba to clamp down on banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a soldier declared wanted by the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in supplying military uniforms to terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
Security expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a statement posted on X.
Makama said that the suspect, identified as 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility, NAOTF, Lagos, was apprehended at about 6:30 pm on July 25, 2026 by troops of 7 Provost Group led by the Acting Commander.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that before he was declared wanted, the soldier absconded from his unit and travelled to Maiduguri on July 7, 2026, where he allegedly went into hiding.
Investigators further established that the soldier was sheltered at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by 25NA/89/12687 Private Baba Kamal Sale of the Corps of Intelligence, Dikwa.
The security expert further noted that acting on credible intelligence, troops of the 7 Provost Group placed the suspect under 24-hour surveillance before intercepting and arresting him at Jidari Bus Stop while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Cameroon.
“The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where he is undergoing further investigation into the alleged supply of military accoutrements to terrorist elements and the possible involvement of other collaborators.
“The arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle insider networks aiding terrorist groups, adding that investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any accomplices,” Makama added.
A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.
According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.
A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.
According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.