Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), have recorded another major operational success following a precision raid on a suspected cultist hideout in the North Bank general area of Makurdi, Benue State.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF Operation WHIRL STROKE, the operation was conducted on 30 October 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to curb criminality and restore peace within the state capital and its environs.
During the raid, the troops apprehended seven (7) suspected cultists believed to be involved in various criminal activities, including armed robbery, drug abuse, and cult-related violence. Items recovered from the hideout include two (2) locally fabricated pistols, one (1) laptop, one (1) cartridge, one (1) round of 7.62mm ammunition, one (1) empty 7.62mm shell casing, one (1) dagger, and several bags containing charms and other incriminating materials.
All suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation, after which they will be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
The Force Commander, Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism, vigilance, and resilience in executing the operation successfully. He urged them to sustain the momentum in the ongoing fight against criminal elements threatening the peace and stability of the region.
General Gara also appealed to youths, particularly students in tertiary institutions, to shun cultism, drug abuse, and all forms of criminal behaviour, urging them instead to embrace discipline, patriotism, and peaceful conflict resolution.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Operation WHIRL STROKE to maintaining peace and security across its Joint Operations Area, assuring residents of the continued determination of the troops to protect lives and property in Benue and neighbouring states.