Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waididi Shaibu, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, visited traditional rulers in Benue State as part of a strategic operational tour across the state and the wider North Central region. The engagement underscored the Nigerian Army’s renewed determination to decisively eliminate criminal elements destabilizing Benue and neighboring states.
During the high-level visit to traditional palaces, the COAS reaffirmed the military’s unwavering commitment to dismantling armed groups and criminal networks threatening lives, livelihoods, and farming communities in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. He disclosed that the tour included a comprehensive review of Operation WHIRL STROKE and the 401 Special Forces Brigade—both headquartered in Makurdi—with the aim of recalibrating ongoing efforts for maximum impact.
To bolster clearance and stabilization operations, Lt Gen Shaibu announced an increase in troop density along vulnerable corridors, particularly the Benue–Taraba axis, reinforced by the deployment of an additional battalion. He emphasized significant enhancements in logistics support, surveillance assets, and rapid response capabilities to strengthen operational dominance and better protect rural farming populations.
The Army Chief highlighted the critical role of intelligence-driven operations, early warning systems, and sustained community engagement in preventing reprisals and breaking the cycle of violence. He stressed that security is a shared responsibility, noting that while the Armed Forces will continue applying decisive force against enemies of the state, lasting peace depends on communities rejecting violence, refusing to shield criminals, and actively supporting lawful authority.
As the country nears general elections, Lt Gen Shaibu assured citizens of proactive measures to deter criminal actors and guarantee a secure environment for the exercise of civic rights.
The Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, commended the Nigerian Army for its resilience and sacrifices amid persistent security challenges. While acknowledging progress in civil-military relations, he expressed concern over recurring attacks on border communities and called for more preventive strategies. He advocated stronger integration of grassroots intelligence into planning, noting that traditional rulers often receive early indicators of threats. The monarch pushed for structured collaboration between security agencies and traditional institutions to counter misinformation, build public trust, and enhance community confidence in military operations.
The Och’Idoma, HRM Agababaidiu Elaigwu Odogbo, who was outside the state for an official engagement, sent goodwill messages and encouragement to the troops.
The COAS further described Makurdi as a strategic military hub, home to elite formations with a proud lineage tracing back to the 72 Special Forces Battalion and now embodied in the 401 Special Forces Brigade. He explained that Operation WHIRL STROKE was designed to harmonize the capabilities of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force in delivering swift and effective responses to emerging threats across the Middle Belt.
The visit signals a fortified partnership between the Nigerian Army and traditional leadership in Benue State, combining robust kinetic action with credible intelligence, community mobilization, and strategic communication. The ultimate goal remains flushing out criminal elements, isolating them from local support, and restoring enduring peace and stability across the North Central region.
