Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), have intensified their operations in Benue State, recording another success with the arrest of seven suspected cultists and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and charms in Makurdi.
The operation, conducted on 30 October 2025, forms part of sustained efforts to curb criminality and restore peace in the state capital and its environs.
According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer, HQ JTF Operation WHIRL STROKE, the troops raided a suspected cultist hideout in the North Bank area, notorious for violent crimes and cult clashes.
Zubairu revealed that “Items recovered from the hideout include two locally fabricated pistols, one laptop, one cartridge, one round of 7.62mm ammunition, one empty 7.62mm shell casing, one dagger, and several bags containing charms and other incriminating materials.”
He said all suspects are in custody for further investigation and prosecution by relevant authorities.
The Force Commander, Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and vigilance. “We must sustain this momentum to ensure that criminal elements do not undermine peace and order in the region,” he said.
Gara also appealed to youths, especially students in tertiary institutions, to “shun cultism, drug abuse, and all forms of criminality,” emphasizing discipline, patriotism, and respect for the rule of law as the basis for sustainable peace.
Operation Whirl Stroke Raids Cult Hideout, Arrests Seven, Recovers Firearms In Benue
