Troops kill four bandits, rescue abductees in Benue, Taraba

Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have neutralised four criminals and rescued two kidnapped victims across Taraba and Benue states.

Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), said in a statement that troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and ammunition and also dismantled a notorious illicit drug network.

The statement further stated that the success followed reports of an armed herder attack along the Gbajimba–Agasha Road in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Troops were immediately deployed to the scene and found two injured residents.

According to the statement, the victims were evacuated to the Primary Health Centre in Gbajimba for treatment, while a manhunt for the assailants is ongoing.

In Taraba State, on the same day, troops responded to an armed robbery alert along the Rafin Kada–Donga Road and engaged the criminals.

The statement further stated that troops neutralised two armed robbers and recovered one AK-47 rifle with three magazines, ammunition and a cash sum of N39,950.

It added that on May 25, 2026, troops responded to a kidnapping report along the Antegh–Zongo Road in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. They quickly intercepted the abductors, who abandoned two victims and fled. One suspect was arrested, while the rescued victims were reunited with their families.

In a separate operation, troops conducted an intelligence-based operation against a notorious illicit drug syndicate.

Troops searched a recovered vehicle in Makurdi on May 23, 2026, and recovered 641 pieces of illicit drugs as well as N781,000 in cash. A follow-up operation on May 27 led to the arrest of three more suspected drug peddlers, with additional illicit substances, a motorcycle and N40,000 recovered. The suspects were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In the most recent operation on May 31, 2026, troops of OPWS, acting on intelligence, raided a bandit enclave at Imande Igigh in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, neutralising two bandits and recovering ammunition and related items.

The Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops and urged them to sustain the operational momentum.