In a targeted operation just weeks before Christmas, a joint security force in Benue State has dealt a significant blow to a criminal network accused of terrorizing local communities. The action underscores both the persistent threat of rural banditry and the evolving, intelligence-driven tactics being employed to counter it.
Operation Details and Tactical Context
Acting on specific intelligence, troops from the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), supported by the Nigeria Police Force and the Benue State Community Protection Guards, confronted an armed gang on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The engagement occurred at an illegal roadblock strategically positioned along the road connecting Aturuku, Wembe, and Ayati villages in the Borkyo council ward of Ukum Local Government Area.
This location was not chosen at random by the criminals. Such illegal checkpoints on remote rural roads are a common modus operandi for gangs in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. They exploit the limited security presence and poor road infrastructure to ambush, rob, and kidnap travelers. The intelligence reviewed by forces indicated this particular group had been systematically dispossessing innocent civilians who unknowingly approached the blocked junction.
The Engagement and Aftermath
“On making contact with the criminals, the troops engaged them decisively,” stated Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer for OPWS. The firefight resulted in the neutralization of three suspects, while others fled into the dense nearby bushes. Two motorcycles, essential for the gang’s mobility in the rugged terrain, were recovered. A heightened search operation is ongoing to locate those who escaped.
Subsequent investigations and community identification revealed the depth of the threat. The three individuals killed were identified as Sughter Abelebe and Sughnen Abelebe (both from Ugbaam Council Ward) and a third from Tse Kpeakaa, Kundav Council Ward. More critically, they were linked to a notorious syndicate responsible for widespread insecurity, including repeated kidnappings across Ukum LGA. Their activities are believed to be connected to recent abduction cases reported around the bustling Zaki-Biam Yam Market vicinity—a major economic hub where kidnappers often target merchants and farmers with proceeds.
Broader Implications and Security Strategy
The Force Commander, Maj-Gen Moses Gara, applauded the “synergy amongst the security personnel,” highlighting a crucial aspect of modern counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations. The collaboration between the military, police, and state-sanctioned local guards (like the Community Protection Guards) is vital. It combines the military’s firepower and reach with the police’s investigative mandate and the local guards’ intimate knowledge of the terrain and community players.
Gen. Gara’s subsequent directives are telling of the current strategy: he encouraged troops to “maintain the operational drive, deepen intelligence-led operations, and reinforce security presence in high-risk communities.” This reflects a shift from purely reactive responses to a more proactive, intelligence-centric model. The commander reaffirmed OPWS’s commitment to defending lives and restoring lasting peace across its joint operation areas, which span Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
Analysis: A Victory in a Larger, Complex Struggle
While this operation is a clear tactical success, it also serves as a stark reminder of the entrenched security challenges in Nigeria’s North-Central region. Ukum LGA, part of the volatile Sankera axis (alongside Katsina-Ala and Logo LGAs), has long been a hotspot for militia violence, gangsterism, and inter-communal conflict. The recovery of just two motorcycles suggests a small cell was operating, but its connection to a larger syndicate and market-area kidnappings points to organized criminal enterprise.
The timing—during the “Yuletide” period—is also significant. Festive seasons often see a spike in criminal activities as travelers move with goods and cash, and security forces may be stretched thin. This preemptive strike demonstrates an attempt to secure the area ahead of the holidays. The real test, however, will be whether this intelligence-led, joint-force model can be sustained to dismantle not just the foot soldiers on motorcycles, but the broader networks financing and orchestrating these kidnappings, thereby creating a more durable peace for the communities of Benue.
(Source: NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Peter Amine
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