Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have neutralized four criminals and rescued two kidnapped victims in separate operations across Benue and Taraba States, while also dismantling a drug trafficking network and recovering weapons and cash.
According to the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the operations were carried out following a series of intelligence-led responses to banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and drug-related crimes in the region.
In Benue State, troops responded to a reported attack by armed herders along the Gbajimba–Agasha Road in the Guma Local Government Area. On arrival, they found two injured residents, who were immediately evacuated to the Primary Health Center in Gbajimba for treatment. A search for the attackers is ongoing.
In a separate incident along the Antegh–Zongo Road in Makurdi, troops intercepted suspected kidnappers and forced them to abandon two victims, who were safely rescued and reunited with their families. One suspect was arrested during the operation.
In Taraba State, troops responding to an armed robbery alert along the Rafin Kada–Donga Road engaged the attackers in a gun battle, neutralizing two suspects. An AK-47 rifle, three magazines, ammunition, and ₦39,950 were recovered from the scene.
Elsewhere, on May 31, 2026, troops raided a suspected bandit hideout at Imande Igigh in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, where two bandits were killed and ammunition recovered.
In a related intelligence-driven crackdown on drug trafficking, troops intercepted a vehicle in Makurdi on May 23, recovering 641 units of illicit drugs and ₦781,000 in cash. Follow-up operations on May 27 led to the arrest of three suspected drug peddlers, with additional narcotics, a motorcycle, and ₦40,000 seized. The suspects have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their swift responses and operational success, urging them to sustain the pressure on criminal elements across the theatre.
