Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) troops, have intensified operations against criminal elements in Benue State to ensure a peaceful farming season. A recent raid by the 72 Special Forces Battalion, along with other security agencies, targeted camps of a wanted bandit leader in Konyo Gbise, near Akwaza in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. The operation resulted in the seizure of assorted weapons, including a submachine gun, locally fabricated rifle, and ammunition, along with other items such as POS machines, generating sets, and suspected cannabis sativa. Major General Moses Gara, Commander of JTF OPWS, commended the troops and urged continued pressure on criminal elements, while also calling on residents to provide credible information.

In a separate development, Saudi Arabian authorities have reportedly apprehended two women, believed to be the wife and mother of Ado Aliero, a notorious Nigerian bandit kingpin. The arrest, an international twist in Nigeria’s fight against banditry, occurred in Medina during an intelligence-led operation targeting a network of fugitives connected to the Northwest insurgency. Ado Aliero, known for mass abductions and violent attacks, has long been on Nigeria’s most wanted list, with investigations now focusing on the reach and financing of his bandit network. Nigerian security agencies are coordinating with their Saudi counterparts, as the arrested women are believed to possess key intelligence regarding Aliero’s movements and funding.

Furthermore, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly arrested Sani Galadi, an alleged notorious bandit and kidnapper, in Sokoto during the screening of intending Muslim pilgrims at Sultan Abubakar International Airport. This arrest follows another incident where Yahaya Zango, a suspected bandit and kidnapper linked to multiple kidnapping incidents in Abuja and Kogi, was arrested at a hajj camp in Abuja. These arrests come amidst an uptick in violent attacks in northern Nigeria, prompting the military to procure new equipment to strengthen efforts against insecurity, as stated by the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa.