Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have intensified their crackdown on cult-related activities in Benue State, following a successful raid on a suspected cultist hideout in the North Bank area of Makurdi.
The operation, conducted on October 30, 2025, was part of ongoing efforts to curb criminality and restore peace within the state capital and surrounding communities.
According to the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, seven suspects were apprehended during the operation. The individuals are believed to be involved in armed robbery, drug abuse, and cult-related violence in the area.
Items recovered from the hideout include two locally fabricated pistols, one laptop, one cartridge, one round of 7.62mm ammunition, one empty shell casing, a dagger, and several bags containing charms and other incriminating materials.
All suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation, after which they will be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for prosecution.
The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and vigilance, urging them to sustain the momentum in the fight against criminal elements undermining peace in the region.
General Gara also cautioned youths, particularly students in tertiary institutions, to shun cultism, drug abuse, and other forms of criminal behaviour. He emphasized that discipline, patriotism, and respect for the rule of law remain vital to achieving lasting peace and stability.
He further reiterated OPWS’s unwavering commitment to maintaining security and order across its joint operations area.
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