Operation Whirl Stroke Intensifies Crackdown, Dismantles Cattle Rustling Networks Ahead of Farming Season in Benue
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have recorded major breakthroughs against criminal networks in Benue Staye, arresting multiple suspects, rescuing victims, and recovering weapons in a series of coordinated operations aimed at securing communities ahead of the farming season.
The intelligence-driven offensive, described as a pre-wet season farming security operation, has targeted cattle rustlers and armed bandits across several communities, significantly improving safety for residents dependent on agriculture.
On March 23, 2026, troops stationed at Ayilamo, acting on information from locals in Anyiin, carried out a joint raid with Agro Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps along the Anyiin–Ugba road.
During the operation, four suspects according to a press release e-signed by the Acting Media Information Officer HQ JTF Operation WHIRL STROKE, Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu (Lieutenant) were apprehended with remnants of butchered cows and subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation. Troops also arranged veterinary treatment for injured livestock to support lawful economic activities.
In a separate operation, troops of the Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Otukpo, backed by a Quick Response Group, stormed a criminal hideout in Amla Icho, leading to the arrest of five suspects, while others fled into nearby bushes.
The raid uncovered a cache of locally fabricated firearms, mobile phones, hard drugs, and spent cartridges, underscoring what officials described as a wider network of criminal activities beyond cattle rustling.
Further clearance patrols conducted in Mbapa and Mbabuande villages led to the arrest of four additional suspects. During one encounter, a suspected armed criminal attempted to disarm a soldier but was neutralised in a brief exchange of fire, while other gang members escaped.
Troops also responded to a distress incident involving an injured herder, identified as Idris Abubakar, who had been attacked while tending cattle. He was promptly evacuated for medical attention. In another operation at Zongo Akiki, three suspected cattle rustlers were arrested and handed over to police authorities.
The operations continued on March 24, when a night patrol at Uhembe village thwarted another rustling attempt. Suspects fled the scene, abandoning stolen cattle and a vehicle, both of which were recovered intact.
Military authorities attributed the successes to strong collaboration with local communities.
“These successes stem from robust community partnerships, with locals providing vital intelligence that enables swift responses,” the statement said.
The operation is seen as critical in Benue, where farmer-herder clashes typically intensify during planting seasons, posing threats to food security and displacing thousands.
Reaffirming the military’s commitment, the Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Moses Gara, said the command would sustain its momentum.
He reiterated “the command’s resolve to maintain these intelligence-driven initiatives, ensuring a peaceful environment for farming activities and enduring stability across the region.”
