Troops Arrest 7, Seize Firearms, Charms in Benue Cultism Crackdown
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested seven notorious cultists and recovered dangerous weapons during a targeted raid on a suspected cult hideout in the North Bank area of Makurdi, Benue State.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Friday, followed credible intelligence reports on the activities of criminal gangs terrorising residents of the area. According to military sources, the troops moved swiftly to the location, engaging in a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of the suspects without resistance.
Items recovered from the hideout included one locally fabricated pistol, several live cartridges, axes, machetes, and assorted charms, believed to be used in carrying out criminal activities and protecting the cult members from arrest.
A security source within the operation confirmed that the arrested suspects are linked to a series of violent attacks, robberies, and cult clashes that have claimed several lives in Makurdi and neighbouring communities in recent months.
“The operation is part of ongoing efforts by Operation Whirl Stroke to rid Benue and surrounding states of criminal elements, including bandits, kidnappers, and cult groups,” the source said.
The suspects, it was gathered, have been handed over to the Benue State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, residents of North Bank and its environs have commended the troops for their timely intervention, urging security agencies to sustain the momentum until the area is completely rid of criminal activities.
The latest operation underscores the military’s renewed commitment to restoring peace and security in Benue State, which has been plagued by recurrent violence linked to cultism and communal clashes.
