By Olayemi Esan
As part of its non-kinetic operations, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have, in conjunction with other security agencies across been settling disputes that could have gone bloody.
Some of these operations were conducted in Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba, Nassarawa,and Benue States, where 38 victims of armed bandits’ attacks and kidnap incidents were rescued and 45 criminal elements arrested, while 3 were neutralized within the period.
"Troops rescued some kidnapped civilians and arrested criminal elements; including one Mr John Paul who deals in weapons and owns a mini factory where arms and ammunition are fabricated", he said.
Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko added that, troops neutralized some criminal elements and recovered several arms and ammunition, 6 assorted arms, 13 rounds of 7.62mm as well as several sacks of cannabis sativa and 200 livestock among other items were recovered.
Operation Whirl Stroke has continued to maintain the operational tempo in both its kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the North Central Zone, held peace and security meetings with community/youth leaders and other critical stakeholders and security agencies at different locations to discuss ways to deal with the security issues affecting Benue and Nasarawa States.
"A total of 10 AK-47 rifles and 45 rounds of ammunition were recovered within the period. Also a total of 7 armed bandits were arrested and 5 kidnapped civilians were rescued as well as 7 armed bandits killed in the course of the operations", he revealed.
Onyeuko pointed out that, although a few setbacks were experienced in the course of these operations within the last 2 weeks, however, troops remained undaunted and determined in their quest to attain sustainable peace in the Country through kinetic and non-kinetic operations, which yielded attendant results in the past 2 weeks.
