Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Nigerian military forces operating under the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have reported a tactical success with the neutralisation of two suspected armed bandits and the recovery of an automatic rifle during a targeted ambush operation along the Naka–Ahume–Makurdi Road in Benue State. The development represents a continuation of sustained counter‑banditry efforts in the North Central region.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, troops of the Chief of Army Staff’s Special Intervention Battalion IX were on routine fighting patrol around the Naka axis of Benue State when they received credible intelligence about the presence and movement of armed criminal elements along a section of the highway connecting Makurdi, the state capital, to communities in the region.
Acting on the information, the soldiers tactically laid an ambush along the identified route on 26 January 2026. The troops made contact with three suspected armed bandits as they approached the kill zone. In the ensuing brief engagement, two of the suspects were “neutralised” — a military term indicating they were killed during the encounter — while the third was said to have escaped, sustaining gunshot wounds.
At the scene of the encounter, security forces recovered an AK‑47 rifle loaded with six rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. The automatic weapon is expected to be subjected to further forensic and ballistic analysis as part of ongoing operational procedures. Following the clash, the troops maintained aggressive fighting patrols within the broader area to deny criminal elements freedom of movement, disrupt potential regrouping and deter similar attacks on civilians or security personnel.
Major General Moses Gara, Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, lauded the troops for their discipline, professionalism and responsiveness during the mission. In remarks accompanying the statement, General Gara said the operation’s success underscores the effectiveness of intelligence‑driven military actions and reaffirms the task force’s commitment to sustaining its operational momentum across its area of responsibility. He emphasised that coordinated offensive operations remain central to improving security conditions and protecting lives and property in communities vulnerable to banditry, kidnapping and related criminal activities.
The Naka–Makurdi road, which had in recent years gained notoriety as a corridor vulnerable to ambushes, kidnappings and criminal attacks, has been a focal point for enhanced security deployments. Community members and road users have previously reported repeated incidents of bandit attacks, which at times led to temporary abandonment of the route due to safety concerns. Military and security deployments under OPWS have, in recent months, contributed to a noticeable increase in patrols and rapid responses to distress calls from residents in the region.
Operation Whirl Stroke, launched by the Nigerian Armed Forces with a mandate to stabilise the North Central states of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba, integrates ground and aerial components in its campaign against criminal networks that include bandits, kidnappers and syndicates responsible for violent raids. The operation has recorded a series of tactical engagements, recoveries of weapons caches, rescues of kidnapped victims and raids on hideouts in recent months, reflecting a multi‑pronged strategy aimed at dismantling organised criminal structures.
Civilian and security sector analysts have highlighted that the sustained campaign, while not eradicating insecurity completely, has contributed to gradual improvements in some affected communities by disrupting armed groups’ operational capabilities. Coordinated patrols, intelligence sharing with local communities, and rapid reaction to credible reports of criminal movements are considered critical elements in the evolving tactics of Operation Whirl Stroke.
The recoveries and neutralisations also signal the military’s broader intent to reduce incidents of cattle rustling, highway ambushes, abductions and other forms of banditry that have long afflicted rural and peri‑urban settlements in the North Central belt. Major General Gara reiterated the task force’s call for continued cooperation from the public, urging citizens to provide timely information to enhance the effectiveness of security operations.
As the operation continues, residents along the Naka–Makurdi corridor and adjacent communities are expected to benefit from increased patrols and security engagements designed to protect travellers and alleviate longstanding concerns about violence and criminal predation on major transportation routes. The military’s efforts contribute to ongoing national priorities focused on restoring civil order and enhancing socio‑economic recovery in regions that have borne the brunt of insecurity challenges over recent years.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments