The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has called on traditional rulers in Benue State to lend their moral authority and grassroots influence toward mobilising communities against criminality.
Lt. Gen Shaibu made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Tor Tiv Palace, Gboko, on Wednesday, March 3. He was in the state as part of a strategic operational tour of Benue State and the North Central theatre.
According to the Army Chief, traditional leaders play a critical role in shaping public perception, promoting peaceful messaging, and discouraging any form of collaboration with criminal elements.
He emphasised that beyond kinetic operations, the support of traditional institutions remains pivotal to achieving sustainable peace.
“Security is a shared responsibility,” the Army Chief stated, adding that while the Armed Forces will continue to apply decisive force against enemies of the state, enduring stability can only be achieved when communities reject violence, refuse to shield criminals and actively support lawful authority.
He explained that Operation Whirl Stroke was established to harmonise the capabilities of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats in the Middle Belt.
Lt. Gen Shaibu noted that Makurdi remains a strategic military hub, hosting elite formations whose lineage dates back to the 72 Special Forces Battalion and now the 401 Special Forces Brigade.
He reaffirmed the Army’s unwavering commitment to dismantling armed groups and criminal networks, threatening lives and livelihoods across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States.
To reinforce ongoing clearance and stabilisation efforts, the COAS announced an increase in troop density along vulnerable corridors, particularly the Benue–Taraba axis, including the deployment of an additional battalion, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations, says in a statement issued on March 4.
The COAS added that logistics support, surveillance assets, and rapid response capabilities have been significantly enhanced to strengthen operational dominance and protect farming communities.
He stressed that intelligence-driven operations, early warning mechanisms, and sustained community engagement are indispensable to preventing reprisals and curbing the cycle of violence.
According to the statement by Colonel Anele, the tour included a comprehensive assessment of Operation Whirl Stroke and the 401 Special Forces Brigade, both headquartered in Makurdi, with a view to recalibrating ongoing operations for enhanced impact.
His Eminence Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv, in his remarks, commended the Nigerian Army for its resilience and sacrifices in the face of persistent security challenges.
While acknowledging improvements in civil-military relations, the Tor Tiv expressed concern over recurring attacks in border communities and called for more preventive security strategies.
He highlighted the importance of integrating grassroots intelligence into operational planning, noting that traditional rulers often receive early indicators of threats and advocated structured collaboration between security agencies and traditional institutions to counter misinformation, build public trust and strengthen community confidence in ongoing operations.
The visit signals a fortified partnership between the Nigerian Army and traditional leadership in Benue State and reflects a comprehensive approach that combines robust military action with credible intelligence, community mobilisation and strategic communication aimed at flushing out criminal elements, isolating them from local support and restoring lasting peace and stability across the North Central region, Colonel Anele explained.
