Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have neutralised two suspected armed bandits during a snap ambush along the Naka–Ahume–Makurdi Road in Benue State.

The operation was carried out on Monday by troops of the COAS Special Intervention Battalion IX deployed under Operation Whirl Stroke.

According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, the troops were on routine fighting patrol around Naka when they acted on credible intelligence about the movement of armed bandits along the route.

“Troops tactically laid an ambush along the identified route and made contact with the criminals,” the statement said.

The military explained that three suspected bandits were sighted during the encounter, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire.

“During the encounter, three suspected armed bandits were sighted. Two were neutralised, while the third escaped with a gunshot wound,” the statement added.

An AK-47 rifle was recovered from the neutralised suspects during the operation.

Reacting to the development, the Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, said the outcome highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations.

“The success reflects the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the professionalism of the troops,” Gara said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Joint Task Force to sustaining operational momentum across its area of responsibility.

The military added that troops have intensified aggressive patrols in the area to further deny criminal elements freedom of movement and enhance security along major routes in the state.