Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have disrupted a major criminal arms supply network with the recovery of a large cache of weapons and ammunition along the Benue border in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The breakthrough followed an intelligence-driven operation carried out on Sunday after security forces received credible information on the movement of an associate of a notorious criminal kingpin, John Ngata.
In a statement signed by Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS headquarters, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, on Monday, the troops stationed at Zaki-Biam in Benue State based on the intelligence mounted a snap roadblock along the suspected route and intercepted the suspect without resistance.
He said the suspect, during preliminary interrogation, led the troops to a hidden armoury belonging to the criminal syndicate at Amadu Village in Takum LGA. A search of the location led to the recovery of 13 AK-47 rifles, 39 AK-47 magazines, 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four hand grenades.
He explained that the arms cache was subsequently destroyed to prevent reuse by criminal elements, while the troops safely withdrew to base after the operation.
Commending the troops, the Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, described the operation as a significant blow to organised criminal networks operating within the Benue–Taraba axis.
He praised the professionalism, swift response and effective use of intelligence that led to the recovery of the lethal weapons.
Major General Gara reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining high operational readiness through improved welfare and logistics support for troops. He also lauded members of the public for their cooperation and provision of credible intelligence, stressing that community support remains critical to ongoing security operations.
The Force Commander urged residents to continue to provide timely and actionable information to security agencies, assuring them of confidentiality, as Operation Whirl Stroke remains committed to safeguarding lives and property across its area of responsibility.
