Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have foiled a cattle rustling attempt and neutralised two suspected terrorists during separate operations in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Makurdi.

Zubairu said troops of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion IX, operating under OPWS, on March 3 arrested three suspected cattle rustlers and recovered stolen livestock during a routine patrol around Obagaji in Agatu LGA.

According to him, the troops acted on credible intelligence about suspected rustling activities around the Omikwidi general area and quickly moved to the Ologba–Egba Road where they laid an ambush.

“During the operation, troops intercepted a Sienna bus conveying three fully grown cows suspected to have been rustled. Three suspects were arrested at the scene,” he said.

The suspects were identified as Mamuda Hussein, 28, from Adagbo community; Sunday Moses, 35, from Obagaji village; and Teny Musa, 22, also from Obagaji.

Zubairu said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were transporting the cattle using a vehicle bearing a fake Kogi State Government registration number plate marked Kogi 2LMA 35 LG.

He added that the alleged gang leader, Hussein, reportedly confessed that he was invited by two individuals identified as Dahiru and Small to purchase the rustled cattle. The suspects are currently in custody for further investigation.

In a separate operation on March 4, troops of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion XV conducted an ambush at Abuja Village in Agatu LGA following intelligence on terrorist movements in the area.

Zubairu said the troops engaged the suspects during the operation, neutralising one armed criminal while others fled. A search of the area led to the recovery of one round of 7.62mm special ammunition from the neutralised suspect.

He added that on March 5, troops deployed to the same village came under attack by suspected terrorists but responded swiftly, repelling the assault and killing another attacker during the encounter.

Meanwhile, on March 7, OPWS troops from the Maritime Component in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area, intercepted suspected cattle rustlers attempting to escape with stolen cows by boat.

According to Zubairu, troops quickly mobilised to the location and fired warning shots, leading to the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of two cows from the boat. The boat and livestock are currently in custody pending further investigation.

The Force Commander of OPWS, Moses Gara, reassured residents of Benue and neighbouring states of the task force’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements within the joint operations area.