Troops serving under Operation Whirl Stroke have ramped up pre‑wet season security operations across Benue State, dismantling criminal syndicates, apprehending suspects, and seizing stolen property in a series of coordinated patrols aimed at safeguarding agrarian communities ahead of the farming season.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the operation, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed these developments on Tuesday, noting that intelligence‑driven patrols have significantly disrupted the activities of cattle rustlers and armed bandits in multiple parts of the state.

Strategic Actions Against Criminal Networks

On March 23, 2026, troops deployed at Ayilamo acted on credible intelligence provided by residents of Anyiin, intercepting a group of suspected cattle rustlers along the Anyiin–Ugba road. In a joint raid with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ Agro Rangers, four suspects were arrested in possession of butchered cattle remains.

The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation, while injured livestock received veterinary care.

In a separate engagement, troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Otukpo, supported by a Quick Response Group, stormed a criminal hideout at Amla Icho. While several suspects managed to escape, five were apprehended. Recovered items included locally fabricated firearms, mobile phones, hard drugs, and spent cartridges.

Ongoing Clearance Operations and Arrests

Patrols extending into Mbapa and Mbabuande villages yielded further arrests. In one engagement, an armed suspect attempted to disarm a soldier but was neutralised in the brief firefight. Other gang members fled the scene.

Troops also responded to distress calls to rescue an injured herder, Idris Abubakar, who had been attacked while tending his cattle. He was evacuated for urgent medical treatment.

In another incident, three suspected cattle rustlers were arrested at Zongo Akiki and transferred to police custody, while a night patrol at Uhembe village foiled an attempted rustling, forcing suspects to abandon stolen cattle and a vehicle, both of which were recovered by security personnel.

Community Partnership Enhances Security

Lieutenant Zubairu attributed the success of the operations to robust collaboration between security forces and local communities, whose timely intelligence has enabled swift and targeted responses to criminal activities.

He emphasised that the pre‑farming offensive is strategically important in Benue, where farmer‑herder clashes historically escalate during planting seasons, threatening food security and prompting displacement of residents.

Military Commitment to Sustainable Peace

The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, reaffirmed the military’s dedication to sustaining intelligence‑led operations to guarantee a peaceful environment for farming and long‑term stability in Benue State.

As the rainy season approaches, security authorities are urging communities to remain vigilant and continue providing actionable intelligence to support efforts aimed at protecting livelihoods and upholding peace in the region.

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Akahi News www.akahinews.org