Nigerian Army intensifies North-Central offensives, destroying Taraba bandits’ hideout and arresting seven suspected cultists in Benue raids

Nigerian Army North-Central offensives have intensified as troops carried out coordinated raids across Taraba and Benue States, destroying a major bandits’ hideout and arresting seven suspected cultists in separate operations under ongoing security efforts.

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The operations, executed by troops of the 6 Brigade, Jalingo, and Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), are part of broader kinetic measures to neutralise bandits, violent gangs and criminal networks threatening peace in the North-Central corridor.

In Taraba, soldiers under Operation Lafiya Nakowa launched a clearance patrol on Friday across border villages in Takum Local Government Area, following intelligence reports of armed groups planning attacks and using farmland as staging bases.

According to Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the troops received updated intelligence mid-mission indicating the presence of bandits near TY Farm in Tati, prompting rapid redeployment.

“Confronted with the troops’ superior firepower, the bandits fled deep into the forest,” the statement read, adding that soldiers subsequently discovered and destroyed a major hideout at the location, recovering one Dane gun and other items used by the fleeing criminals.

The Commander, 6 Brigade and Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended his troops for their conduct, describing their responsiveness as proof of “improved tactical mobility and renewed operational discipline.”

He reaffirmed the brigade’s resolve to strengthen dominance across vulnerable rural routes and urged residents to support ongoing operations through credible intelligence sharing.

“Actionable tip-offs remain vital to our success. We call on locals to provide timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations,” Uwa said.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke carried out a precision raid on a suspected cultist base in North Bank, Makurdi, a hotspot for youth gang activity and drug-related violence.

The Thursday, October 30 raid led to the arrest of seven suspects linked to armed robbery, drug abuse, and cult-related attacks.

Items recovered included two locally made pistols, one laptop, a cartridge, one live and one spent 7.62mm round, a dagger, and bags of charms.

All seven suspects are in military custody for profiling before being handed over to appropriate investigative agencies.

Force Commander OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, commended troops for their “professionalism, vigilance and resilience,” and ordered sustained pressure on cult networks and criminal cells within Makurdi’s university communities.

He also urged Nigerian youths to reject cultism and drug abuse, stressing that “discipline and patriotism are vital to national peace.”

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Gara assured that recent gains will be consolidated through large-area clearance sweeps across the Taraba–Benue axis, aimed at dismantling cross-border arms trafficking routes extending toward Cameroon.