Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have neutralised an armed herder and recovered an AK-47 rifle while foiling an attack on Azege community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The troops, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, achieved the feat in response to a distress call on Monday reporting an attack on the community in Tombo Council Ward of Logo LGA.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said the troops swiftly mobilised to the area and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.
Zubairu said the troops overpowered the assailants, forcing them to flee in disarray, adding that they pursued the fleeing attackers and discovered one of the suspected armed herders who had been neutralised during the encounter.
He listed the items recovered from the scene to include one AK-47 rifle, one magazine containing 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one Nokia mobile phone.
He added that the recovered items had been secured, while the remains of the neutralised assailant were evacuated by the police.
‘Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the group who fled the scene,’ the statement said.
The JTF, however, commended the troops for their tactical resilience and the police for their cooperation during the operation, while urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities in their communities to security agencies.