Chief of Army Staff deploys special forces to Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba

A few hours after deploying a special force to Plateau, the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, has sent other teams to Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba, to serve as a “force multiplier” to Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), a joint task force, in these states.

According to a statement issued by Ahmad Zubairu, the acting spokesperson for OPWS, the deployment of this team—COAS Special Intervention Battalion XV—was in line with Mr Shaibu’s efforts to strengthen internal security and stabilise vulnerable communities.

“The deployment follows the successful completion of an intensive Special Forces training programme conducted at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora,” the statement partly read.

In addition, Mr Shaibu, a lieutenant general, has approved the deployment of the newly graduated soldiers to key formations and operational theatres across the country.

“Upon arrival in the Joint Operations Area, the troops demonstrated high morale and combat readiness,” the statement added.

The newly deployed special forces are expected to complement the “ongoing efforts” to dismantle criminal networks, curbing insecurity and “restoring normalcy to communities shattered by banditry, armed violence and other criminal activities.”

The deployment, the OPWS spokesperson added, was intended to safeguard farming communities, protect livelihoods and revive socio-economic activities disrupted by unending insecurity in the region.

Moses Gara, the Commander for OPWS welcomed the newly deployed soldiers and urged them to “effectively apply the skills, discipline and tactics acquired during their Special Forces training.”

Mr Gara, a major general, emphasised that the mission demands “professionalism, resilience and total commitment.”

Stressing that the troops have to be decisive and ruthless against terrorist and other criminal elements, Mr Gara cautioned the soldiers that the operational environment does not condone complacency.

He also encouraged them to collaborate with sister security agencies.

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Mr Gara also spoke to the soldiers about responsible use of social media, highlighting both its positive and negative implications on military operations.

“The newly inducted troops were also sensitised on the need to maintain cordial relationship with host communities while upholding human rights tenets in line with extant code of conduct,” the statement noted.

The commander, however, urged them to maintain operational security at all times and to conduct themselves in line with the Nigerian Army’s core values and rules of engagement.