Emmanuel Daudu
The Nigerian Army has disclosed that troops under Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) rescued 657 kidnapped victims, neutralised 124 bandits and other criminal elements, and facilitated the return of over 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes since January 2025.
The disclosure was made during a Defence Correspondents’ media tour from Abuja to the Operation WHIRL STROKE Headquarters in Makurdi, where journalists covering the defence beat were taken through the operational achievements, security challenges and ongoing strategies across parts of Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Kogi states.
Briefing the correspondents, senior military officers said troops operating across the Joint Operations Area recorded major successes, including the recovery of 2,465 rustled cattle, which were returned to their owners, and the arrest of 38 suspected gunrunners, alongside the destruction of illegal gun-fabrication facilities.
The Army also confirmed the recovery of 98 assorted weapons and 6,364 rounds of ammunition of different calibres, as well as quantities of illicit drugs suspected to be Cannabis sativa and other prohibited substances.
Troops also successfully rescued Mr. Itay, an Israeli expatriate working with SCC Nigeria Limited, who was abducted along the Kufai–Ahmadu–Wukari road in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
According to the briefing, sustained military pressure under OPWS has enabled the return of over 60,000 displaced persons to their ancestral homes and farmlands. Recently resettled communities include Agbatse and Abande in Kwande Local Government Area, as well as Aiyla, Ochulokpa, Akaida, Eba, Maikudi, Aku, Okokolo and Ochalanya in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, among others.
As part of its civil-military cooperation initiatives, OPWS also distributed 2,800 bags of 50kg fertiliser to farmers to boost food production and strengthen trust between troops and host communities.
Military authorities described the security situation within the Joint Operations Area as relatively calm but fluid, noting persistent threats from banditry, kidnapping for ransom, armed herder-farmer clashes, illegal arms proliferation and communal reprisals.
They disclosed that 114 attacks were recorded within the OPWS area of responsibility in the last 12 months, with Sector 1 and Sector 3 recording the highest number of incidents. A total of 10 military casualties were recorded during the period, including the killing of three soldiers in an ambush in December 2025.
The Army said OPWS conducted 1,936 kinetic operations in 2025 alone, including fighting patrols, raids, clearance operations and escort duties, leading to the destruction of criminal camps and disruption of major criminal networks.
Beyond kinetic actions, OPWS has intensified non-kinetic operations, including peace and reconciliation meetings involving Tiv, Fulani, Opatani, Omangede communities and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), as well as engagements with traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society groups.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations, intensifying rural patrols, enhancing intelligence-led missions and deepening collaboration with civil authorities to consolidate gains and restore lasting peace across the North-Central region.
Military authorities stressed that continued cooperation from host communities and stakeholders remains critical to ending criminality and ensuring the full restoration of socio-economic activities in the affected areas.
Africa Security Investigation News 