Troops smash bandit camps, free 11 hostages in coordinated raids
Story by Vivian Okafor
In a significant coordinated operation spanning parts of Benue and Taraba States, troops from Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) successfully liberated 11 kidnapped individuals and seized a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was informed by a reliable military source that this audacious mission was carried out by Sector I troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) over the weekend, specifically between Saturday and Sunday.
The source further detailed that Commander Col. KO Bukoye spearheaded the operation, which received aerial backing from the Air Component and strategic blocking maneuvers from Sector III in Gindin Mangoro, located within Taraba’s Wukari Local Government Area.
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The military source indicated that the simultaneous assault focused on criminal enclaves in the Tse-Ahur and Chito general areas of Benue’s Ukum Local Government.
The source stated: “The operation, which demonstrated strategic joint-force coordination, resulted in a successful engagement with suspected kidnappers. Upon contact, the troops overwhelmed the adversaries with superior firepower, leading to the arrest of two suspects while others fled, abandoning both captives and weapons.
A follow-up search-and-rescue mission led to the recovery of 11 hostages, comprising four women and seven men. All victims received medical attention and are being processed for reunification with their families.”
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The source also reported the recovery of various items from the criminal hideout, stating: “Items recovered from the criminal enclave included four FN rifles, three G3 rifles, four AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, one locally fabricated dane gun, and multiple magazines and rounds of various calibres. Troops also recovered smoke canisters and fetish charms.”
This successful operation, the source disclosed, concluded with the destruction of the bandits’ camp and their logistical infrastructure, effectively curtailing the criminals’ operational freedom in the area.
Maj.-Gen. Moses Gara, the Force Commander of OPWS, who was present to supervise the mission, lauded the troops for their bravery and adherence to tactical discipline.
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He stated: “He reaffirmed the commitment of OPWS to rooting out criminal elements in line with the strategic directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the broader vision of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Gara also appreciated the CDS and Service Chiefs for their continued support, noting that recent gains were due to prompt deployment of resources, effective inter-agency collaboration, and sustained operational momentum.
He assured that troops would maintain pressure on criminal elements and intensify efforts to restore lasting peace across Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa.”
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