Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have arrested a high-profile suspected criminal in Agasha Village, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, following a reported attack on a local resident.
In a statement on Saturday signed by Lieutenant Acting Media Information Officer HQ JTF Operation Whirl Stroke, Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the Joint Task Force said the operation was launched on 13 March 2026 after receiving credible information about an attack on Mr Shaapera Seeta Michael.
“Acting swiftly on the report, troops of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion XI, deployed under Operation WHIRL STROKE, mobilised immediately to the affected area to track down the suspect responsible for the assault,” the statement read.
On arrival in Agasha Village, soldiers cordoned off the area to prevent the suspect from escaping and launched a targeted search operation to locate the alleged attacker.
During the operation, troops apprehended a suspected militia member identified as Suurnen David Akum, 27, a resident of Agasha Village in Guma Local Government Area. A locally fabricated rifle was recovered from the suspect at the time of his arrest.
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The statement added that the suspect is currently under investigation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action once preliminary inquiries are completed.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and tactical conduct during the operation.
He urged them to sustain the operational tempo and remain vigilant in ongoing efforts to deny criminal elements the freedom to operate within communities across the area of responsibility.
Operation WHIRL STROKE is a joint security initiative tasked with combating militia activities, armed banditry, and other forms of violent crime in parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region, particularly in Benue State and surrounding areas.