Troops operating within Sector 1 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) conducted a successful raid on a bandit hideout located in the Aterayange region of the Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State, resulting in the neutralization of one suspected bandit and the recovery of various arms and ammunition.
The operation took place between Monday night and early Tuesday morning, propelled by actionable intelligence regarding the whereabouts of a notorious bandit leader known as Full Fire.
According to reports, troops from Sub-Sector 1A, under the command of Major M. Babalola, arrived at the target location at approximately 3:45 a.m. and engaged the armed group. While the bandit leader managed to evade capture during the confrontation, one bandit was successfully neutralized.
The operation yielded significant recoveries, including two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, five AK-47 magazines, one G3 magazine, one hand grenade, two Baofeng radios, 162 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and one motorcycle.
Additionally, it was reported that ongoing exploitation efforts in the area will continue, with troop morale and operational efficiency remaining high. Operation Whirl Stroke represents a collaborative military initiative aimed at addressing banditry and other forms of violent crime across the regions of Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States.