The Acting Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Brigadier General Clement Apere, has commended troops on their resilience and doggedness in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
His commendation was contained in a statement by the Deputy Director Defence Information, Wap Maigida, who said he disclosed this during his maiden operational visit to troops’ locations in Nasarawa and Benue States and adjoining states, assuring them of prioritizing their welfare to enhance operational efficiency.
Apere urged the troops to remain patriotic and also redouble their efforts in the sustenance of peace and security within their area of responsibility.
According to him, the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs have ensured that the welfare of troops fighting insecurity in the country remains one of the topmost priorities of this present administration.
He further noted that the government is working tirelessly to acquire more equipment in order to energise the fighting spirit of troops in the theatres of operation so as to yield the desired results in quelling insecurity within the state and the nation at large.
He equally averred that the visit has provided him with the opportunity to have an on-the-spot assessment of the challenges which the troops are facing with regards to the operations.
He also used the opportunity to commend the field commanders, while urging them to maintain the tempo in order to guarantee the safety of lives and properties of the civilian populace in the states.
At Odugbo the District Head of Odugbo, Audu Umoru, commended the efforts of OPWS for restoring normalcy in his community.
Audu disclosed that since the troops were deployed to the community, herdsmen/farmers clashes hitherto experienced in the locality is now a thing of the past.
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He added that the locals, who had since returned to their ancestral homes, were going about their farming activities without fear of molestation.
Commander OPWS said he was delighted to note that the efforts of the troops have started yielding positive results.
He urged the locals to continue to provide credible information that would aid the operations.
The locations visited by the Force Commander include Giza, Tunga, Ondori, Loko, Maraba Udege, Uttu Forest and Ugya in Nassarawa State as well as Igumale, Odugbo and Akwu, all in Benue State.
The Force Commander was accompanied by the Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Bashiru Mamman and other OPWS Component Commanders.
The acting Force Commander, OPWS, Clement Apere, recently took over from Major General Mutiu Yekini, who was posted to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Training and Operations.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
