A violent protest has rocked Jato-Aka town, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue, following the shooting of three students during a gun battle between bandits and troops of Operation Whirl Stroke. One of the students died from the stray bullets but the other two survived and are receiving treatment.

A report by security expert Zagazola Makama this Wednesday morning, October 1, 2025, said that the incident happened yesterday, as a result of which “angry youths took to the streets and set ablaze the office of the traditional ruler, Mue Ter.”

Gallant troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised a suspected bandit during the encounter, according to Zagazola.

He disclosed in his Zagazola.org blog that the incident occurred at about 3:20 p.m. while soldiers were returning from a routine patrol in the area.

According to a source quoted by the blog disclosed that trouble started when the patrol team sighted some suspected bandits on a motorcycle carrying firearms.

“On sighting the troops, the hoodlums opened fire. The soldiers immediately engaged them in a gun duel. In the exchange of fire, one of the hoodlums was shot dead, while others escaped, abandoning their motorcycle.

“Unfortunately, three students of Government Science Secondary School, Jato-Aka, who were closing from school at the time, were hit by stray bullets. One female student was later confirmed dead by a doctor at NKST Hospital, Jato-Aka, while the other two were admitted and are responding to treatment,” the source explained.

The corpse of the neutralised bandit was also deposited at the NKST Hospital Mortuary.

Military sources confirmed the incident to Zagazola, stressing that the troops only acted in self-defence after being fired upon by the armed hoodlums.

They described the death of the student as an unfortunate accident, assuring that efforts would be made to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

The police equally confirmed the incident to the blog, saying that personnel and operatives of the Police Mobile Force were deployed to the area to restore calm.

“The situation has been brought under control and normalcy has returned, but monitoring and patrols are ongoing to forestall further breakdown of law and order,” a police source said.

Authorities have appealed to residents of Jato-Aka to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations into the incident continue.