By Nkechi Eze
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have intensified intelligence-led operations across Benue State, recording significant successes against cattle rustlers and armed bandits as part of efforts to secure communities ahead of the wet season farming period.
The operations, conducted across multiple locations within the Joint Task Force’s area of responsibility, were aimed at neutralising criminal elements and creating a safe environment for agricultural activities.
According to a statement by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, troops on March 23, 2026, acting on credible intelligence from residents, carried out a coordinated raid along the Anyiin–Ugba road.
Soldiers stationed at Ayilamo, in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Agro Rangers, arrested four suspects linked to cattle rustling, recovering remnants of butchered cows in their possession. The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation, while troops facilitated veterinary care for injured livestock to support lawful economic activities.
In a related operation, troops of the Forward Operation Base (FOB) Otukpo, supported by a Quick Response Group, raided a known criminal hideout at Amla Icho. Although some suspects fled, five individuals were apprehended, and a cache of locally made firearms, mobile phones, hard drugs, and spent cartridges was recovered, indicating wider criminal activities beyond cattle rustling.
Further clearance operations in Mbapa and Mbabuande villages led to the arrest of four additional suspects. During one encounter, an armed criminal attempted to disarm a soldier and was neutralised in a brief exchange of fire, while others escaped.
Troops also rescued an injured herder, identified as Idris Abubakar, who had been attacked while tending his cattle. He was promptly evacuated for medical treatment. In another incident at Zongo Akiki, three suspected cattle rustlers were arrested and handed over to the police.
On March 24, troops on night patrol at Uhembe village thwarted another rustling attempt as fleeing suspects abandoned stolen cattle and a vehicle, both of which were recovered intact.
Military authorities attributed the successes to strong collaboration with local communities, whose timely intelligence enabled swift and targeted responses to criminal threats.
The pre-wet season offensive is particularly critical in Benue State, where recurring farmer-herder conflicts often intensify during planting periods, posing risks to food security and displacing residents.
The Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations to ensure a peaceful environment for farming activities and long-term stability across the state.
He noted that early disruption of criminal networks would not only address immediate threats but also deter future attacks, fostering coexistence among communities.
