Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) and the Benue State Civil Protection Guard have successfully foiled a terrorist attack at the Tor Donga Yam Market in Benue State. The joint security forces neutralized two suspected terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during the operation.
Swift Response to Distress Call
The Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Makurdi by the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu. According to General Gara, the troops responded swiftly to a distress call while conducting fighting and confidence-building patrols around the market area.
Upon arrival, the troops engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the neutralization of two suspected terrorists identified as Dantaraba and Golozo. The successful operation ensured the safety of traders and residents, allowing commercial activities at the yam market to continue without disruption.
Recovered Items
Items recovered from the suspects include one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, one damaged pistol, one pistol magazine, six rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, nine rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, one ATM card, one Moniepoint ATM card, and other sundry items.
The force commander commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience, and swift response, stating that their timely intervention prevented what could have resulted in heavy civilian casualties and disruption of economic activities.
Collaboration with Civil Protection Guard
General Gara also praised the Benue State Civil Protection Guard for its collaboration with the military in efforts to rid the state of criminal elements. He expressed appreciation to members of the public for providing credible and timely information and urged residents to sustain their cooperation with security agencies.
“Security remains a collective responsibility, and continued public support is critical to ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace across the state,” he said.
