Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE have rescued two kidnapped victims, neutralised four suspected bandits and armed robbers, and recovered an AK‑47 rifle with ammunition during a week‑long offensive across Benue and Taraba states between 24 May and 31 May 2026. The military also dismantled a suspected drug‑trafficking network and arrested several suspects in the same period.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, by the acting Media Information Officer of the task force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the operations targeted armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits and suspected drug traffickers operating within the joint operational area.
In Benue State, troops were deployed to the Gbajimba–Agasha Road in Guma Local Government Area on 24 May following reports of an attack by armed herders. Upon arrival, soldiers found two injured residents at the scene. The victims were evacuated to the Primary Health Centre in Gbajimba for treatment, while a manhunt for the assailants continues.
On the same day, acting on a kidnap report along the Antegh–Zongo Road in Makurdi Local Government Area, troops intercepted suspected abductors. The suspects abandoned two captives and fled when they sighted the soldiers. One suspect was arrested, and the rescued victims were reunited with their families.
In a separate intelligence‑based operation targeting an illicit drug syndicate, troops searched a recovered vehicle in Makurdi on 23 May and seized 641 pieces of suspected illicit drugs alongside ₦781,000 in cash. A follow‑up operation on 27 May led to the arrest of three more suspected drug peddlers, with additional illicit substances, a motorcycle and ₦40,000 recovered. The arrested persons are being processed for handover to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In the most recent operation, on 31 May, troops raided a suspected bandits’ enclave at Imande Igigh in Katsina‑Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. Two bandits were neutralised, and ammunition and related items were recovered from the hideout.
In Taraba State, on 24 May, troops responded to an armed robbery alert along the Rafin Kada–Donga Road. A gun battle ensued, during which soldiers neutralised two armed robbers. Recovered from the scene were one AK‑47 rifle with three magazines, ammunition, and the sum of ₦39,950.
The Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for the successes recorded and urged them to sustain the operational momentum. He also appealed to communities to provide timely information on suspected criminal activities to security agencies and warned informants aiding criminals to desist from the act or face the consequences.
The operations underscore the military’s continued push to dislodge bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers from their hideouts across the North‑Central region. The neutralisation of four armed suspects and the rescue of two kidnap victims highlight both the progress and the persistent threat posed by criminal networks operating across state lines.
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