Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have foiled an attempt by armed militia members to disrupt the All Progressives Congress primary elections in Benue State, arresting one suspect and recovering weapons.
The incident happened on May 16, 2026, in Aliade, Gwer East Local Government Area, where troops swiftly responded to the activities of the armed group.
According to a statement on Friday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, the troops engaged the militia members who were trying to violently interfere with the APC primaries in the area.
The operation led to the arrest of one suspect. Troops also recovered a getaway Toyota Sienna vehicle, one AK-47 rifle, magazines, and live ammunition.
“In Benue State, on May 16, 2026, troops in Aliade, Gwer East LGA of Benue State, swiftly countered an armed militia group attempting to violently disrupt the ongoing All Progressives Congress primary elections. Troops engaged the militia, arrested one suspect, and recovered a getaway Sienna vehicle, an AK-47 rifle, magazines, and live ammunition,” the statement read.
Onoja further disclosed that troops of Operation Savannah Shield targeted underground networks facilitating communication, arms supply, and medical logistics for terrorist groups operating within Kwara State.
He said troops at Forward Operating Base Kaiama on May 14 arrested a suspected terrorist operative linked to an earlier attack on police personnel at Tenebu village after intercepting communications where the suspect admitted involvement in the assault.
“Troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD targeted the underground networks facilitating communication, armaments, and medical/drug logistics for active terrorist cells. On 14 May 2026, troops at FOB Kaiama arrested a terrorist operative who masterminded an earlier attack on police personnel at Tenebu village, following a communication intercept where the suspect explicitly described his role in the assault,” Onoja said.
He added that troops operating at Bokungi in Edu Local Government Area also arrested a high-ranking gang leader travelling towards Ilorin from the Ndeji community. The suspect’s mobile devices contained graphic digital evidence of him brandishing automatic rifles and displaying large quantities of extorted cash.
On May 16, troops conducting a search operation at Tunga Maje in Kaiama Local Government Area arrested a suspected insurgent informant whose phone contact list allegedly revealed links to a notorious terrorist leader identified as Abba Salma.
