Troops under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have blocked major border routes linking Nasarawa and Benue states that were previously used by bandits to launch attacks on farming communities and escape across state lines.

The Commanding Officer, COAS Intervention Battalion XI, Lt Col Donatus Otobo, disclosed this while briefing journalists during an operational tour of military formations in Guma Local Council of Benue State.

He said the battalion was deployed to the area on July 12, 2025, following persistent bandit attacks that had turned Guma into one of Nigeria’s volatile flashpoints. He added that troops faced repeated ambushes from the first day of deployment and have since succeeded in flushing out criminal elements and securing most of the area.

“From the day we entered this area, it was one form of attack or another. On our first day alone, we encountered over ten attacks. But today, we have been able to push the bandits out of our area of responsibility,” Otobo said.

He explained that Guma shares boundaries with three local councils in Nasarawa State — Awe, Keana and Doma — which he described as known infiltration routes exploited by bandits who take advantage of the difficult terrain and deserted border communities to carry out hit-and-run attacks.

Otobo said sustained aggressive patrols, round-the-clock ambushes and close coordination with sister units operating in Nasarawa had significantly disrupted the movement of bandits along the corridor.

“Whenever there is pressure from the Nasarawa axis, they attempt to move into Guma. We have blocked those routes and pushed them back. As of today, we have achieved about 80 per cent security within our area of responsibility,” he said.

He added that collaboration between units in Benue and Nasarawa recently led to the arrest of a suspected criminal who crossed into Benue to attack communities, stressing that intelligence sharing remains key to sustaining the gains recorded.

The officer further revealed that before the arrival of the battalion, civilians could not travel through the Nasme axis or access farmlands due to constant attacks. However, the presence of troops has restored confidence, with farmers and traders now moving freely along previously abandoned routes.

Otobo attributed the successes to strong logistical and operational support from the Chief of Army Staff, describing the battalion as a special intervention force mandated to clear troubled areas and redeploy once stability is achieved.

“Guma used to record an average of ten killings weekly. Today, we sometimes go three months without a single attack. That is the result of sustained military pressure,” he said.