1. In its resolve to forestall banditry in the North Central Zone of the Country, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have neutralized an armed bandit, recovered arms and arrested 2 other bandits at 2 locations in Benue State.
2. On 21 December 2020, acting on credible intelligence, own troops deployed at Karu Village responded to report on the presence of some armed bandits, who had been linked to a recent killing of a Makurdi based layer and his wife, operating around Anguwa-Onmbaagbu general area in Benue State. Troops swiftly mobilized to the identified location where they had contact and engaged the criminals in fire fight. During the encounter, troops overwhelmed the bandits and killed one of them, while others flee with various degrees of gunshot wounds. Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 4 rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition from the criminal elements.
3. In a related development, on same day, following intelligence report on activities of remnants of the late Gana’s militia gangs in parts of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, troops deployed in Benue and Taraba States carried out raid operation on the identified hideout of the bandits at Abako Village. While conducting a thorough combing of the hideout, troops arrested 2 of the armed bandits with their arms. The arrested bandits have been handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency for further action.
4. You are kindly requested to disseminate this information through your medium with the attached photos for the awareness of the general public.
JOHN ENENCHE
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
22 December 2020
