By: Sunday Ameh
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have foiled attempts by bandits to attack some communities in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The operation comes barely a week after suspected armed herders and local bandits, numbering about a thousand, ambushed and killed 11 security personnel drawn from the police and the Civil Protection Guards, known by the code name Anyam Nyom, within Katsina-Ala LGA.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Makurdi, the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said the troops, between September 26 and 28, 2025, thwarted the bandits’ plans to attack Agurugu and Igyudu villages.
“The operations, conducted between September 26 and 28, foiled plans by armed bandits and also resulted in the recovery of dangerous weapons, further boosting the confidence of residents in security agencies,” the statement partly read.
According to Zubairu, on September 26, troops deployed at Abaji received credible intelligence on the movement of a group of bandits around Agurugu village. The troops mobilised to the area and made contact with the criminals at Sheekan village, engaging them in a gun duel that forced the bandits to flee.
He further explained that on September 28, troops deployed to Gbise encountered bandits during a fighting patrol towards Igyudu village.
The bandits abandoned their positions and fled during the confrontation.
Items recovered during the two operations include one automatic pistol, three 9mm rounds, thirty-three (33) 7.62mm special ammunition, fifteen (15) 5.56 x 45mm rounds, two (2) AK-47 magazines, and twenty-nine (29) mobile phones abandoned by the fleeing criminals.
Other recovered items include a single-barrel gun, three rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, two AK-47 magazines, one G3 magazine, one hand grenade, one tear gas canister, assorted medical kits, and an Itel phone.
Zubairu quoted the OPWS Force Commander, Major General Gara, as commending the troops for their bravery, swift response, and professionalism.
He added that Gara assured the people of Katsina-Ala and adjoining communities of their safety, urging them to continue to provide credible and timely information to aid ongoing military operations.
“We remain committed to restoring lasting peace in Benue and neighbouring states. Our troops have shown resilience and determination, and we will not relent until these areas are completely secured,” the force commander was quoted as saying.
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