Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have apprehended three suspected criminals and recovered arms and ammunition during a clearance operation in the Agasha area of Benue State.
This was made known in a statement by Acting Media Information Officer HQ JTF Operation Whirl Stroke, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, shared on the Nigerian Army’s Facebook page on Friday.
The operation, carried out on March 26, 2026, forms part of ongoing pre-wet season offensives aimed at securing farming communities and preventing attacks ahead of the planting season.
Acting on credible intelligence, soldiers from the COAS Intervention Battalion XI advanced to a suspected hideout of armed elements within the Agasha general area.
The military noted that the troops swiftly cordoned off the location upon arrival, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Sule Ibrahim and Salmanu Risko, both from Nasarawa State, and Abdulkareem Haruna from Jos.
Items recovered during the operation include an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 27 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Other items seized were a Tecno mobile phone, a cutlass, ten sachets of alcohol, and assorted charms believed to be linked to criminal activities.
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The suspects are currently in military custody, undergoing preliminary investigation, and are expected to be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their professionalism and resilience.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to maintaining an aggressive posture to deny criminal elements freedom of movement and ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens.
Operation WHIRL STROKE continues to intensify efforts across the region, focusing on dismantling criminal networks and stabilising communities ahead of the critical farming season.
