The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, visited the palaces of traditional rulers in Benue State as part of a strategic operational tour of the North Central region.
The visit forms part of renewed efforts by the Nigerian Army to strengthen collaboration with community leadership and intensify ongoing operations aimed at flushing out criminal elements destabilising Benue and neighbouring states.
During the engagement, the Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to dismantling armed groups and criminal networks threatening lives and livelihoods across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu disclosed that his visit also involved a comprehensive operational review of Operation WHIRL STROKE and the 401 Special Forces Brigade, both headquartered in Makurdi, with the aim of recalibrating existing strategies for greater operational impact.
He stressed that while military action remains necessary, the support of traditional institutions is vital to achieving lasting peace.
The COAS therefore called on the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, the Och’Idoma, HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo, and other traditional rulers across Benue to use their influence and moral authority to mobilise communities against criminality.
According to him, traditional leaders play a crucial role in shaping public perception, promoting peaceful messaging, and discouraging any form of collaboration with criminal elements.
“Security is a shared responsibility. While the Armed Forces will continue to apply decisive force against enemies of the state, lasting stability can only be achieved when communities reject violence, refuse to shield criminals and actively support lawful authority,” the COAS said.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu also highlighted Makurdi’s strategic importance as a major military hub, noting that the city hosts elite formations whose lineage dates back to the 72 Special Forces Battalion, now restructured as the 401 Special Forces Brigade.
He explained that Operation WHIRL STROKE was established to integrate the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force in responding swiftly and effectively to security threats across the Middle Belt.
To further strengthen ongoing clearance and stabilisation efforts, the COAS announced plans to increase troop deployment in vulnerable areas, particularly along the Benue–Taraba axis, including the deployment of an additional battalion.
He added that logistics support, surveillance capabilities and rapid response mechanisms have also been enhanced to improve operational effectiveness and better protect farming communities.
The Army Chief emphasised that intelligence-driven operations, early warning systems and sustained community engagement remain critical to preventing reprisals and breaking the cycle of violence in affected areas.
As the country approaches the next general elections, he assured citizens that proactive security measures are being implemented to deter criminal elements and ensure a safe environment for the exercise of civic rights.
In his remarks, the Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, commended the Nigerian Army for its resilience and sacrifices in tackling security challenges in the region.
While acknowledging improvements in civil-military relations, the monarch expressed concern over recurring attacks in border communities and called for stronger preventive security strategies.
He also emphasised the need to incorporate grassroots intelligence into security planning, noting that traditional institutions often receive early warning signals of potential threats.
According to the Tor Tiv, structured collaboration between security agencies and traditional leaders will help counter misinformation, strengthen public trust, and improve community cooperation in ongoing security operations.
The Och’Idoma, HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo, who was out of the state on an official engagement, also conveyed goodwill and words of encouragement to the troops through palace representatives.
The visit underscores a strengthened partnership between the Nigerian Army and traditional leadership in Benue State. It reflects a comprehensive security approach that combines military operations, intelligence gathering, community mobilisation and strategic communication to isolate criminal elements and restore lasting peace across the North Central region
