By Chimezie Godfrey
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, have disrupted a kidnappers’ roadblock in Benue State, neutralised one suspected bandit and arrested two suspected kidnappers in separate operations.
The operations, carried out on August 19, 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected bandit kingpin and his associates who were operating an illegal checkpoint along the Jortar–Atume axis.
Acting on the intelligence, troops swiftly mobilised to the area and engaged the criminals in a gun battle. One suspected bandit, identified by the nickname “Cool Nigga”, was neutralised during the encounter, while other members of the group fled, abandoning a motorcycle which was recovered by the troops.
In a separate operation in Logo Local Government Area on the same day, troops acting on information from a credible source arrested two suspected kidnappers at Gou Village.
The suspects, identified as 44-year-old Terhile Iyo and 32-year-old Vershima Emmanuel, reportedly confessed to an attempt to kidnap Mrs Balame Nyikwagh, a resident of Gou Village.
Troops recovered one locally made pistol, one cartridge, five Tecno torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, multiple SIM cards and charms from the suspects.
The suspects remain in military custody for further investigation and exploitation.
The Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, said the force remained committed to protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements across the state.