Nigerian Army troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have killed two suspected armed bandits during a raid at a possible hideout of the remnants of the recently neutralized
notorious Benue militia leader, Terwase Akwaza (Gana) around Adu general area in Chanchanji council ward of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The military raid was jointly carried out by the troops of Sector 2 deployed at Gbise in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State and the troops of Sector 4 following an actionable intelligence.
According to a statement made available on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, the armed militias fired gunshots at troops as they closed in on their position in the course of the operation. However, the gallant troops swiftly responded with superior fire power which forced the bandits to flee the camp in disarray into the surrounding forest. Meanwhile, two locally made pistols were recovered from the bandits.
Relatedly, another raid was carried out by the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke on an identified hideouts of bandits at Chanchanji in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and Sai in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. 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 by the troops during the raid at Chanchanji.
Moreso, the hideouts were thereafter combed thoroughly by the troops and items recovered from the bandits include 16 mobile phones, charms and some substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
The statement added that troops were have continue to dominated the areas with fighting patrols to deter and deny armed elements the freedom of movement. Also, it was further stated that all the arrested suspects were already undergoing preliminary investigation after which they will be handed over to the police for further action.
Similarly, troops of Sector 1 also engaged some suspected armed herdsmen that were harbouring in the forest boundary between Benue and Nasarawa States on Monday, September 14, 2020. Many of the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds while the camp serving as their hideout was destroyed completely.