Security forces under Operation WHIRL STROKE have stepped up their crackdown across parts of Benue State, recording multiple arrests and disrupting criminal activities linked to cattle rustling and armed groups ahead of the farming season.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the task force spokesman, Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, said the operations were guided by intelligence from local communities and aimed at preventing the usual spike in violence during planting periods.
“These coordinated efforts have delivered strong results against criminal elements, especially cattle rustlers and armed gangs, helping to create a safer environment for farming communities,” he said.
According to him, troops deployed in Ayilamo acted on credible tips from residents and carried out a joint operation alongside the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Agro Rangers along the Anyiin–Ugba road, arresting four suspects found with remains of slaughtered cattle. The suspects were later handed over to the police.
In another operation, soldiers from the Forward Operating Base in Otukpo, backed by a Quick Response Group, stormed a suspected hideout in Amla Icho, arresting five individuals while others fled.
Recovered items included locally made firearms, mobile phones, hard drugs, and spent ammunition, suggesting the group’s involvement in broader criminal activities.
Further patrols in Mbapa and Mbabuande communities led to the arrest of four additional suspects.
Zubairu also disclosed that during one encounter, a suspect tried to overpower a soldier and seize his weapon but was neutralised, while others escaped.
Troops also rescued an injured herder, Idris Abubakar, who had been attacked while grazing his cattle. He was quickly evacuated for medical treatment.
At Zongo Akiki, three more suspects linked to cattle rustling were apprehended and handed over to authorities.
On March 24, soldiers on night patrol in Uhembe village foiled another rustling attempt, forcing suspects to flee and abandon stolen cattle along with a vehicle, all of which were recovered.
The military credited the success of the operations to strong collaboration with local communities, noting that timely intelligence has played a crucial role in their response.
Force Commander Moses Gara reaffirmed the commitment of Operation WHIRL STROKE to sustain the offensive, stressing the importance of the mission in a state where farmer-herder clashes often escalate during planting seasons.
He added that the goal is to promote peaceful coexistence, protect livelihoods, and ensure a stable environment for agricultural activities across the region.
