A joint security operation has thwarted a suspected terrorist attack on the popular Tor Donga Yam Market in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, with two suspected terrorists killed during a gun battle.
The operation, carried out on Sunday by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in collaboration with the Benue State Civil Protection Guard (CPG), also led to the recovery of weapons, ammunition and other items believed to belong to the fleeing attackers.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, the security personnel were conducting routine patrols in the Katsina-Ala axis when they received intelligence that armed men had infiltrated the outskirts of the Tor Donga Yam Market.
The joint forces immediately mobilised to the area, where they reportedly came under heavy gunfire from the suspected terrorists. The troops returned fire, killing two of the attackers identified as Dantaraba and Golozo, while other members of the group escaped into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot wounds.
Security operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, a loaded AK-47 magazine, a damaged automatic pistol with its magazine, 15 rounds of live ammunition, and several Moniepoint and other commercial ATM cards believed to have been in the possession of the suspects.
Military authorities said the operation prevented what could have been a deadly attack on traders and residents at one of the state’s busiest agricultural markets. Tor Donga Yam Market is a major commercial centre that attracts hundreds of farmers and traders from within and outside Benue State.
The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops and members of the Civil Protection Guard for their swift response and professionalism. He said their actions helped avert significant loss of lives and disruption of economic activities in the area.
Gara reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting farming communities and critical economic infrastructure across Benue State. He also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects, while security patrols have been intensified in Katsina-Ala and other vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.Joint Security Forces Kill Two Suspected Terrorists, Foil Attack on Benue Yam Market
MAKURDI, Nigeria — A joint security operation has thwarted a suspected terrorist attack on the popular Tor Donga Yam Market in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, with two suspected terrorists killed during a gun battle.
The operation, carried out on Sunday by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in collaboration with the Benue State Civil Protection Guard (CPG), also led to the recovery of weapons, ammunition and other items believed to belong to the fleeing attackers.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, the security personnel were conducting routine patrols in the Katsina-Ala axis when they received intelligence that armed men had infiltrated the outskirts of the Tor Donga Yam Market.
The joint forces immediately mobilised to the area, where they reportedly came under heavy gunfire from the suspected terrorists. The troops returned fire, killing two of the attackers identified as Dantaraba and Golozo, while other members of the group escaped into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot wounds.
Security operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, a loaded AK-47 magazine, a damaged automatic pistol with its magazine, 15 rounds of live ammunition, and several Moniepoint and other commercial ATM cards believed to have been in the possession of the suspects.
Military authorities said the operation prevented what could have been a deadly attack on traders and residents at one of the state’s busiest agricultural markets. Tor Donga Yam Market is a major commercial centre that attracts hundreds of farmers and traders from within and outside Benue State.
The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops and members of the Civil Protection Guard for their swift response and professionalism. He said their actions helped avert significant loss of lives and disruption of economic activities in the area.
Gara reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting farming communities and critical economic infrastructure across Benue State. He also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects, while security patrols have been intensified in Katsina-Ala and other vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.
