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As the 2025 harvest season reaches its peak, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have intensified patrols across Benue State, resulting in the arrest of two cattle herders caught destroying cultivated farmlands in Zongo Akiki, a suburb of Makurdi.
The incident occurred on November 20, 2025, when soldiers on routine harvest protection patrol intercepted the suspects after they allegedly led a herd of cattle into community farms, trampling and grazing on mature crops ready for harvest. The prompt intervention by the military prevented what could have escalated into a violent confrontation between the herders and angry local farmers.
The two suspects are currently in military custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the invasion.
Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and restraint, noting that their timely action averted further destruction and a potential breakdown of law and order. He warned both farmers and herders against taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing that retaliation only fuels conflict and undermines peace efforts.
General Gara specifically called on herders operating in Benue to strictly adhere to the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, urging them to avoid actions that threaten agricultural activities and community harmony.
He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of Operation Whirl Stroke to protecting farmlands, safeguarding farmers, and ensuring a secure environment for legitimate businesses during and beyond the harvest period.
The arrest comes amid heightened security measures across Benue as farmers work round the clock to bring in their yields. Local sources say many communities remain on edge due to lingering fears of crop destruction by stray or deliberately driven cattle, a perennial trigger of farmer-herder crises in the state.
While the military continues to maintain presence in vulnerable areas, residents have welcomed the latest action as a sign that security agencies are alive to their responsibilities this farming season.
With investigations ongoing, many will be watching to see whether the arrested herders will be charged under the anti-open grazing law or handed over to civil authorities for prosecution. For now, the message from OPWS is clear: Benue’s farmlands will be protected, and anyone found destroying crops, regardless of tribe or occupation, will face the full weight of the law.
