Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have engaged bandits in a series of confrontations across Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, recovering arms, ammunition, and mobile phones in the process.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the operation’s spokesperson, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, the encounters occurred between September 26 and 28, following intelligence reports of bandit movements.
In the first operation, soldiers moved to Agurugu village where they exchanged fire with armed groups at Sheekan. The bandits fled, leaving behind an automatic pistol, assorted ammunition, two AK-47 magazines, and 29 mobile phones.
Two days later, troops on patrol between Gbise and Igyudu engaged another group of bandits, who retreated after a brief gun battle. Items recovered included a single-barrel gun, AK-47 and G3 magazines, three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a hand grenade, a tear gas canister, medical kits, and a mobile phone.
Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, commended the soldiers for their “bravery, swift response, and professionalism,” adding that the latest breakthroughs demonstrate the effectiveness of current operational strategies. He assured residents that security forces would sustain the pressure until peace and stability are restored across Benue and adjoining states.
The military further appealed to locals to cooperate by providing credible information that could aid ongoing counter-banditry operations.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
