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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Troops of Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), said they disrupted kidnappers road block, kill one and apprehended two suspects in separate operations across Benue State.
A statement signed by the Acting Media Information Officer, OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu and issued to newsmen in Makurdi said the the troops, acting on credible intelligence on 19 August 2026 regarding the activities of a suspected bandit kingpin and his associates operating an illegal checkpoint along the Jortar-Atume axis, swiftly mobilized to the area.
The statement said “On arrival, the troops made contact with the criminals, resulting in a firefight during which one suspected bandit, identified by the nickname “Cool Nigga”, was neutralised.”
Zubairu said the other members of the group fled in disarray, abandoning a motorcycle, which was recovered by the troops.
In a separate operation on the same day, OPWS troops deployed in Logo Local Government Area, acting on information from a credible source, apprehended two suspected kidnappers at Gou Village.
The suspects, identified as Terhile Iyo, 44-year-old and Vershima Emmanuel, 32-year-old, reportedly confessed to an attempt to kidnap one Mrs Balame Nyikwagh of Gou Village.
Items recovered from the suspects include one locally made pistol, one cartridge, five Tecno torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, multiple SIM cards and charms.
He said the suspects remain in military custody for further exploitation.
The Force reassured law-abiding citizens of its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
