Molly Kilete, Abuja
Soldiers on anti-banditry operations in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states have killed two bandits and recovered several arms and other dangerous weapons from them.
The soldiers operating under OPERATION WHIRL STROKE, were on a fighting patrol along Nagi-Ucheki- Audu- Enger-Adudu axis in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State when they encountered the bandits.
Items recovered from the bandits include one AK 47 rifle, two rifle magazines, 48 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, one machete, one mobile phone and a bag of charms.
Acting director Defence Information, Colonel Onyema Nwachuku, who made this known in a statement, said that the soldiers also averted a violent ethnic clash between Tivs and Jukuns at Jootar, a border community between Ukum and Wukari Local Government Areas of Taraba state.
Nwachuku statement reads in parts: “Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to conduct anti banditry operations in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states have neutralized two armed bandits in a recent encounter with the bandits on Friday 19 April 2019. The troops, who were on a fighting patrol along Nagi-Ucheki- Audu- Enger- Adudu axis in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, responded to an attack by a group of bandits, killing one, while others fled the scene. The troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, 2 rifle magazines, 48 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, 1 machete, 1 mobile phone and a bag of charms abandoned by the criminals.