Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested two others in separate operations across Benue State, intensifying pressure on criminal networks in the region.

The acting Media Information Officer for the task force, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, said the operations were based on credible intelligence and formed part of ongoing efforts to curb banditry and kidnapping in Benue and neighbouring states.

According to him, troops deployed along the Jortar Atume axis moved to intercept a suspected bandit kingpin and his associates who had allegedly mounted an illegal checkpoint on the route, a tactic frequently used by armed groups to rob and abduct travellers.

On arriving at the location, the soldiers reportedly came under fire from the armed group, triggering a brief but intense exchange. One of the suspects, identified only by the nickname Cool Nigga, was shot and killed during the confrontation. The remaining members of the gang fled into nearby bushland, abandoning a motorcycle that was later recovered by the troops as evidence.

In a separate operation in Gou, a community in Logo Local Government Area, troops arrested two men suspected of involvement in a foiled kidnap plot. The suspects were identified as 44 year old Terhile Iyo and 32 year old Vershima Emmanuel.

Lieutenant Zubairu said preliminary interrogation revealed that the pair confessed to planning the abduction of a local woman, Mrs Balame Nyikwagh of Gou village. Security sources described the alleged plot as part of a pattern of targeted kidnappings for ransom that has unsettled rural communities in the area.

Items recovered from the suspects included a locally made pistol, one cartridge, five TECNO torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, several SIM cards and charms believed to be used for protection or intimidation. The suspects are being held in military custody for further investigation and possible handover to relevant prosecuting authorities.

Operation Whirl Stroke, which covers Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and called on residents to continue sharing timely and reliable information on suspicious movements or criminal activity to enable swift response by security forces.