Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have intensified their crackdown on criminal elements in Benue State with the arrest of seven suspected cultists during a precision raid in the North Bank area of Makurdi.
The operation, conducted on October 30, 2025, targeted a suspected cult hideout as part of ongoing efforts to curb cult-related violence, armed robbery, and other crimes within the state capital and its environs.
Recovered items included two locally fabricated pistols, one laptop, one cartridge, one round of 7.62mm ammunition, one empty 7.62mm shell casing, a dagger, and several bags containing charms and other incriminating materials.
According to the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, all suspects are currently in custody for further investigation and subsequent prosecution by relevant authorities.
The Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and vigilance, urging them to sustain the momentum in restoring peace and stability in the region.
He also appealed to youths—particularly students in tertiary institutions—to shun cultism, drug abuse, and other criminal activities, emphasizing the importance of discipline, patriotism, and respect for the rule of law in building a peaceful society.
General Gara reaffirmed OPWS’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens across its joint operations area.
