Troops clash with Benue bandits, recover guns, ammunition

Nkereuwem Effiong

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have killed a suspected bandit and recovered firearms and ammunition during a patrol along the Gbise–Igyudu Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The operation took place on Wednesday when troops from Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force encountered two men suspected to be bandits travelling on a motorcycle along the route.

The Acting Media Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

According to Zubairu, the troops identified the men as armed suspects before engaging them, triggering a gun battle.

“One of the suspected bandits was neutralised, while the second suspect fled the scene when subdued by superior firepower,” he said.

Following the encounter, the troops carried out a search and clearance operation around the area to ensure that the fleeing suspect did not remain nearby or pose an immediate threat to residents.

The operation yielded a cache of weapons and ammunition, including a pistol, a pistol magazine and an AK-47 magazine.

The troops also recovered eight rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one 7.62mm NATO round, two 9mm rounds and one PKT round.

Other items found during the operation were a Tecno mobile phone and assorted charms.

The military did not disclose the identity of the deceased suspect or provide further details about the identity of the fleeing man.

The encounter comes amid sustained security operations by troops in Benue and other parts of the North-Central region, where armed groups have continued to pose security challenges to rural communities and travellers.

Operation Whirl Stroke urged residents to remain alert and report suspicious movements to security agencies, stressing that timely intelligence from members of the public could help troops respond quickly to emerging threats.

Zubairu said the task force would maintain sustained patrols and intelligence-led operations across its area of responsibility to disrupt criminal networks and prevent them from gaining ground.

He also urged residents to continue cooperating with troops and other security agencies by providing credible information that could assist in tracking suspected criminals and securing vulnerable communities.

The task force said its operations would continue as part of efforts to maintain security and protect law-abiding residents across the affected areas.