Troops of the joint task force, operation whirl stroke, have killed four suspected bandits and rescued two kidnap victims during a series of operations carried out in Benue and Taraba states.
The operations, conducted between May 24 and 31, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, suspected illicit drugs and cash, according to the task force.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, the acting media information Officer, the troops targeted criminal elements involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and drug trafficking across the operational area.
Zubairu said troops deployed to the Gbajimba–Agasha Road in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on May 24 responded to reports of an armed herder attack and found two injured residents, who were evacuated to a health facility for treatment.
On the same day, troops engaged suspected armed robbers along the Rafin Kada–Donga Road in Taraba State, killing two of the suspects. An AK-47 rifle, three magazines, ammunition and N39,950 were recovered during the operation.
The task force also rescued two kidnap victims on May 25 along the Antegh–Zongo Road in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State after suspected abductors abandoned their captives and fled upon sighting troops. One suspect was arrested.
In a separate operation targeting drug trafficking, troops recovered 641 pieces of suspected illicit substances and N781,000 from a vehicle in Makurdi. Follow-up intelligence-led raids resulted in the arrest of three suspected drug peddlers, while additional substances, a motorcycle and N40,000 were recovered.
According to the statement, the suspects will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
The task force added that troops raided a suspected bandits’ hideout at Imande Igigh in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State on May 31, where two bandits were killed and ammunition recovered.
Major General Moses Gara, force commander,1 commended the troops for the successful operations and urged them to sustain the offensive against criminal groups.
He also appealed to residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies and warned against aiding criminal activities.
