Troops Nab Suspected Militia Member, Recover Rifle In Benue Operation
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have arrested a high-profile suspected criminal during an intelligence-driven operation in Agasha Village, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, following a report of an attack on a local resident.
Disclosing this on Saturday, OPWS’s Acting Media Information Officer, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said the operation was launched on March 13, 2026, after security agencies received credible information about an assault on Mr. Shaapera Seeta Michael in the community.
Acting swiftly, troops of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Intervention Battalion XI deployed under Operation WHIRL STROKE mobilised to the area to track down the suspect behind the attack.
On arrival, the troops cordoned off the area to prevent the suspect from escaping while conducting a targeted search operation aimed at identifying and apprehending the alleged attacker.
During the operation, the suspected militia member, identified as Mr. Suurnen David Akum, 27, from Agasha Village in Guma Local Government Area, was arrested. A locally fabricated rifle was also recovered from him.
The suspect is currently under investigation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and tactical approach, which led to the successful arrest.
He urged them to sustain the operational tempo and remain vigilant in ongoing efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of operation in the area.
