Troops kill several bandits, arrest others in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba

Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE, on Tuesday said it has recorded tremendous success against bandits in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement in Abuja, said the operations were recorded on Monday following actionable intelligence on the possible hideout of the remnants of the late repentant Benue militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana’s militia elements.

According to him, many ammunition were recovered, and several bandits were killed, and others were arrested by the Nigerian Army.

The statement read: “Following credible intelligence on the presence of some suspected armed herdsmen harbouring in the forest boundary between Benue and Nasarawa States yesterday, 14 September, 2020, troops of Sector 1 engaged the bandits at first light with many of them escaping with gunshot wounds. Their camp was subsequently destroyed.

“In the same vein, following actionable intelligence on the possible hideouts of remnants of the late Gana’s militia elements around Adu general area in Chanchanji council ward of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, Troops of Sector 2 deployed at Gbise in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State in conjunction with troops of Sector 4 conducted a joint dawn raid operation on the identified hideouts at Adu.

“In the course of the operation, troops had contact with the armed militias who fired at troops as they closed in on their position. The gallant troops swiftly responded with superior fire, forcing the bandits to flee the camp in disarray into the surrounding forest. In the course of the encounter, 2 armed militias were neutralized.

“Also, 2 locally made pistols were recovered from the bandits. Thereafter, troops carried out another raid operation on another identified armed bandits’ hideouts at Chanchanji in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and Sai in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State during which three suspects namely; Saalu Igbua Terlumun, Benjamin Valentine and Milton Gbegi were arrested at Sai while Isaac Hilega, aka Bawasa and Godwin Terwase were arrested at Chanchanji.