Troops Kill Suspected Kidnapper, Recover AK-47 in Swift Operation Near Benue Checkpoint
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, have neutralised a suspected kidnapper and recovered an AK-47 rifle during a rapid response operation targeting criminal elements in Jotar Village.
The operation was carried out on July 2, 2026, after troops received credible intelligence about suspected kidnappers operating near the Quarantine Checkpoint. Personnel deployed from Kyado swiftly mobilised to the area, where they encountered the armed suspects in a fierce gun battle.
During the exchange, one suspected terrorist was killed, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and two empty magazines from the scene. Preliminary findings indicate that the neutralised suspect may have been linked to the attack on commuters on July 1, 2026, during which the former Benue State Secretary to the State Government (SSG) sustained a gunshot injury.
The Force Commander of Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their courage, professionalism, and commitment to protecting lives and property. He urged personnel to sustain aggressive fighting patrols and maintain pressure on criminal groups to deny them freedom of operation across the Joint Operations Area.
Major General Gara also praised the continued collaboration among security agencies, describing intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation as critical to restoring lasting peace and security in the region.
Operation WHIRL STROKE reaffirmed its commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and called on members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring that all actionable intelligence would be handled confidentially and acted upon promptly.
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