BENUE STATE, Nigeria — June 17, 2025
The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Moses Gara, has reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s commitment to restoring sustainable peace and security in Benue State and adjoining flashpoints through intensified counter-insurgency operations.
During an operational tour of key areas under the Joint Task Force’s coverage, General Gara visited troops deployed at the COAS Intervention Battalion 9 Headquarters and forward operating bases in Naka, Gwer, Otukpo, Agatu, and Apa West Local Government Areas of Benue State. He urged officers and soldiers to remain vigilant, resilient, and strictly professional in the execution of their duties.
“Our mission remains clear to identify, isolate, and dismantle all criminal elements threatening peace in this region,” General Gara declared while addressing troops. “You must maintain discipline and focus, as the people of Benue are counting on us to restore normalcy and uphold national security.”
In a statement issued by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Operations Officer for OPWS, the Force Commander emphasized the importance of synchronizing kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to effectively combat banditry, armed militias, and other non-state actors destabilizing the region.
General Gara also held strategy meetings with field commanders to assess real-time intelligence and review the progress of ongoing clearance operations. These engagements are part of the military’s broader campaign to dismantle criminal strongholds and facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities.
The Commander assured residents of Benue and neighboring states that Operation Whirl Stroke, in collaboration with other security agencies, will not relent until peace, law, and order are fully restored.
“We are not only fighting for territory, we are fighting for the dignity and security of our people. There will be no safe haven for violent actors,” he said.
The visit reflects the military’s continued resolve to improve troop morale, reinforce strategic coordination, and deliver on its constitutional mandate to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and internal stability.
