*Recover Arms, Ammunition; Issues Toll-Free Numbers
Major General Sunday Igbinowahia, the Force Commander (FC), Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), the military spike operation in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states has paraded fifteen suspects arrested by troops of OPWS, among them two women.
The FC, who paraded the suspects at the Command headquarters of OPWS in Makurdi explain that, the suspects were arrested for various crimes among them, banditry, cattle rustling, illicit drugs, impersonation and armed robbery.
Also, in view of the prevailing security challenges in its Joint Operations Area (JOA), General Igbinowahia noted that the Joint Task Force, headquarters, has, as part of efforts to enhance its activities, OPWS has come up with some emergency phone numbers that would make it easier for persons in its JOA reach OPWS in times of distress.
The emergency numbers which are: 07087871515, 09153401043 and 08060332239, are to enable the populace pass information on security related issues to the Force headquarters for speedy and timely response.
However on the arrests made, General Igbinowahia said, “Troops of OPWS on operation have arrested 15 criminal suspects between the period of 6th September, 2023 to 15th October, 2023, in connection with armed robbery, banditry, cattle rustling, impersonation, illicit drugs as well as recovered arms/ammunition.”
Some of items recovered from the suspects include mobile phones, two dane guns, eight bags of indian hemp, one locally fabricated pistol, Indian hemp, one motorcycle, one face cap, a phone charger, a military uniform and 4×7.62mm ammo.
He further stated that, “Following a tip-off on suspected bandits hibernating at Gidan Mashansu village in Wukari LGA of Taraba state, during subject, troops arrested Abubakar Imurana, Billia Dantani and Ibrahim Iliya.
“Items recovered in their possession where one dane gun, 3 mobile phones, 8 bags of substances suspected to be Cannabis sativa and the sum of One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred Naira.”
In another operation, the Force Commander observed that troops of OPWS arrested suspected armed robbers, while responding to a distress call at about 20:25hrs in Agagbe, on activities of armed robbers along Naka-Makurdi road, Gwer-West LGA of Benue state.
He explained that troops mobilized to the area, and the criminals fled on sighting OPWS troops. They pursued the suspects, leading to the arrest of three armed robbers identified as: Ande Mathew; Tough Peter and James Abike.
General Igbinowahia observed that “Items recovered (from the suspects) were one locally fabricated pistol, 4 x 7.62mm special rounds, 3 mobile phones, one mc, charms and the sum of Ten Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N10,150,00) only.”
Similarly, “On 15th October, 2023 at about 15:40hrs while conducting raid operation the troops also got information on suspected cattle rustling activities at Tse-Amua village in Guma LGA of Benue state.
“During the raid, troops arrested four suspected cattle rustlers identified as: Cletus Ior, Edward Fidelis, Mmes Dooshima Terhemen and Joy Uhamber and Gangala Tamen.
“All of them are from Udei village of Nyiev council ward of Guma LGA of Benue state. In their possession were rustled cow meat and a dane gun.
“Another suspect that was arrested is, Kelvin Stephen. He was arrested by troops of strong response area, Karshi on 30th September, 2023 for impersonating at Orozo general area of Abuja Municipal Area Council of FCT.”
The Force Commander, Major General Sunday Igbinowahia also assured the people of the three states that OPWS would provide them maximum protection and continue to respond promptly to distress calls, with a view to protecting lives and property, which is the primary and foremost responsibility of OPWS. End.
