Troops Kill Bandit, Seize Weapons Cache in Benue Gun Battle
Troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have neutralized an armed bandit and recovered a cache of weapons during a clearance operation in Mararaba Gbagir, a community in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria.
The operation, which took place on Tuesday, 30 July 2025, followed credible intelligence on the presence of suspected armed criminal elements in the area.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, the troops engaged the suspects in a gun duel during which one of the criminals was gunned down. Several others fled the scene with gunshot wounds.
“In the course of the firefight, the troops successfully neutralized one criminal and recovered a significant arms cache. The recovered items include six AK-47 magazines, three 9mm rounds, two 7.62mm special rounds, one locally fabricated gun, and one locally fabricated pistol,” the statement said.
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Additionally, the troops destroyed charms and shrines believed to be used by the criminal elements for protection and ritual purposes.
The Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism, precision, and courage in executing the operation. He emphasized the resolve of the military to sustain the momentum in flushing out criminal gangs across Benue and other parts of the Joint Operations Area.
“The operation is a strong warning to criminal elements that there is no safe haven for banditry, terrorism, and related crimes in our region,” General Gara said. “We urge members of the public to support our efforts by providing timely and actionable intelligence.”
Operation Whirl Stroke was launched to tackle insecurity, including armed banditry and communal violence, in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, and parts of Niger states. The latest success in Mararaba Gbagir further reinforces the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region.
By PRNigeria
