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Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have disrupted a suspected kidnappers’ roadblock in Benue State, killing one suspected bandit and arresting two others in separate operations.
The operations were carried out on August 19, 2026, according to a statement issued by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF Operation Whirl Stroke.
The task force said its troops acted on credible intelligence about a suspected bandit kingpin and his associates operating an illegal checkpoint along the Jortar-Atume axis.
“On arrival, the troops made contact with the criminals, resulting in a firefight during which one suspected bandit, identified by the nickname ‘Cool Nigga’, was neutralised,” the statement said.
It added that other members of the group “fled in disarray, abandoning a motorcycle,” which was recovered by the troops.
In a separate operation in Logo Local Government Area, OPWS troops arrested two suspected kidnappers at Gou Village following information from a source, the task force said.
The suspects were identified as 44-year-old Terhile Iyo and 32-year-old Vershima Emmanuel.
According to the statement, the suspects “confessed to an attempt to kidnap Mrs Balame Nyikwagh of Gou Village.”
The troops recovered one locally made pistol, one cartridge, five Tecno torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, multiple SIM cards and charms from the suspects.
The two suspects remain in military custody for further investigation and interrogation.
The task force reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with “timely and credible information.”
