๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐โ47 ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฏ๐๐๐ต!
๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐โ47 ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฏ๐๐๐ต!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa
Troops of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion IX operating under the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully neutralised two suspected armed bandits and recovered an AKโ47 rifle during a tactical ambush along the NakaโAhumeโMakurdi Road in Benue State.
According to a statement released by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer for OPWS, the operation was conducted on Monday, January 26, 2026, following credible intelligence regarding the movement of armed bandits along the busy highway. Troops deployed around Naka were on routine fighting patrol when they laid an ambush along the identified route and made contact with the criminals.
During the encounter, soldiers engaged the suspects, resulting in the neutralisation of two of the bandits, while a third is reported to have escaped with gunshot wounds. In the aftermath of the clash, troops recovered one AKโ47 rifle loaded with six rounds of 7.62โฏmm special ammunition at the scene.
Following the successful operation, military sources say troops have intensified aggressive patrols in the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of movement and further enhance security along the major route.
The Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, commented that the outcome demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligenceโled operations and the professionalism of the troops involved. He reiterated the task forceโs commitment to sustaining operational momentum and ongoing efforts to improve security across the Joint Operations Area.
Authorities have also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against armed criminal networks in the region.
Citations:
- New Telegraph: https://newtelegraphng.com/neutralise-2-suspected-armed-bandits-in-benue-recover-automatic-weapons/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- TVC News: https://www.tvcnews.tv/troops-neutralise-two-armed-bandits-recover-ak-47-rifle-in-benue/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Punch: https://punchng.com/soldiers-kill-two-bandits-recover-ak-47-in-benue-ambush/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Daily Post: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/26/troops-kill-two-suspected-bandits-in-gun-battle-on-naka-makurdi-road/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
