The Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Moses Gara, has undertaken an operational tour of flash points under the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion XI deployed at Daudu, Uikpan, and Umenge.
A statement by acting media information officer HQ JTF Operation Whirl Stroke Lieutenant Ahmed Zubairu said the visit also featured equipment assessment at the 401 Special Forces Brigade Mechanical Transport Yard, Sector 1 OPWS, Makurdi.
In his address to troops, Major General Gara praised their resilience in sustaining day and night patrols, ambushes and farm patrols within their areas of responsibility.
He emphasised the importance of being tough on criminals who trigger the cycle of violence, noting that while kinetic measures remain vital, non-kinetic engagements are equally necessary to guarantee farmers and law-abiding citizens the freedom to pursue their livelihood and social activities.
The Force Commander further charged Community Vigilante members to sensitise their communities against aiding or engaging in criminal activities such as cattle rustling or the destruction of livestock.
He equally warned herders that cattle found grazing on farmlands would be confiscated, stressing that criminality has no ethnic or tribal identity but contributes significantly to insecurity.
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During his brief, the Commanding Officer COAS Intervention Battalion XI, Lieutenant Colonel D Otobo, reaffirmed his unit’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations to rid the area of criminal elements guided by actionable intelligence.
During the equipment inspection at 401 SF Brigade MT Yard, Major General Gara advised commanders to prioritise preventive maintenance of vehicles and ensure unserviceable platforms are promptly repaired to enhance operational readiness.
The Force Commander was accompanied on the visit by the Commander of Sector 1 OPWS, Colonel Kolawole Bukoye, alongside other senior officers.
(Editor: Ena Agbanoma)
