In a significant breakthrough, the Nigerian Army's 6 Brigade apprehended Grema, also known as Gamboi, a key Boko Haram commander, on January 26, 2025, in Mai-Hula town, Bali Local Government Area.
The arrest is part of ongoing military operations targeting Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activities.
According to a statement by Captain Oni Olubodunde, the brigade's spokesperson, Grema confessed to leading a syndicate involved in kidnapping for ransom to fund terrorism and establishing a new Boko Haram cell in the region.
This development marks a critical step in dismantling terrorist networks in the area.
The suspect also reportedly revealed that ISWAP members had been deployed to the state from the Timbuktu Triangle in Borno State to further their operations.
Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke praised the troops for their commitment to ensuring peace in Taraba.
He reiterated the Army’s resolve to neutralize threats posed by terrorist groups and called on the public to cooperate by providing credible information.
The arrest marks another success in the military’s efforts to curb the activities of insurgents in Nigeria’s northeast and neighboring regions.