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By Philip Nwosu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has pledged intensified military operations against armed groups operating in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, announcing plans to increase troop deployment and strengthen surveillance capabilities across vulnerable corridors in the North Central region.
Shaibu made the declaration on Wednesday, March 4, during a strategic operational visit to Benue State, where he met with traditional rulers as part of efforts to reinforce civil–military collaboration and recalibrate ongoing security operations.
The Army Chief said his visit included a comprehensive review of Operation WHIRL STROKE and the 401 Special Forces Brigade, both based in Makurdi. According to him, the assessment was aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and consolidating gains recorded in the fight against criminal elements destabilising communities in the Middle Belt.
He stressed that while the Nigerian Army remains committed to applying decisive force where necessary, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the active involvement of host communities.
“Security is a shared responsibility,” Shaibu said. “Our troops will continue to confront criminal elements decisively, but lasting stability depends on the willingness of communities to reject violence and deny criminals safe haven.”
The COAS specifically appealed to the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo, to leverage their influence in mobilising grassroots support against criminality. He described traditional institutions as critical partners in shaping public perception, promoting peaceful coexistence and strengthening intelligence gathering at the community level.
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Shaibu noted that Makurdi remains a critical military hub, hosting elite formations whose evolution spans from the 72 Special Forces Battalion to the current 401 Special Forces Brigade. He explained that Operation WHIRL STROKE was created to harmonise the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force to respond swiftly to emerging threats across the Middle Belt.
To consolidate ongoing clearance and stabilisation operations, the Army Chief announced the deployment of an additional battalion along the Benue–Taraba axis, one of the flashpoints of recurring attacks. He added that logistics supply chains had been reinforced, surveillance assets expanded, and rapid response mechanisms upgraded to improve operational dominance and safeguard farming communities.
Shaibu also underscored the importance of intelligence‑driven operations and early warning systems in preventing reprisals and breaking the cycle of violence. He assured residents that proactive security arrangements were being strengthened ahead of the forthcoming general elections to guarantee a safe environment for citizens to exercise their civic rights.
In his response, the Tor Tiv commended the Nigerian Army for its sacrifices and sustained presence in the state despite persistent security challenges. While acknowledging improvements in civil–military relations, he expressed concern over continued attacks in border communities and urged the military to adopt more preventive and intelligence‑led strategies.
The monarch emphasised that traditional rulers often receive early signals of impending threats and called for structured collaboration between security agencies and local institutions to enhance trust, counter misinformation, and deepen community confidence in ongoing operations.
Although absent due to an official engagement outside the state, the Och’Idoma conveyed goodwill and encouragement to the troops, reaffirming the readiness of traditional authorities to support efforts aimed at restoring peace.
The visit underscores a renewed synergy between the Nigerian Army and traditional leadership in Benue State, reflecting a multidimensional approach that blends kinetic action with community engagement, strategic communication and intelligence coordination to stabilise the North Central region.
