March 05, (THEWILL) — The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Shaibu, says the Nigerian Army is expanding its aviation assets to improve response time, including plans to provide helicopters for Operation Whirl Stroke.
He assured the Benue State Government of the military’s continued commitment to restoring lasting peace across the communities in the state.
General Shaibu, who made the disclosure during a courtesy visit on Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House, Makurdi, on Thursday, explained that his visit to the state was both official and personal, describing it as a return to a place that shaped his childhood education.
He explained that the trip included operational visits to the headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, the 401 Special Brigade, and other formations to assess operational readiness and address challenges faced by troops.
The Army Chief disclosed that an additional battalion had already been deployed to the Kwande Local Government Area of the state to strengthen ongoing security operations.
“Beyond kinetic operations, the Army is also pursuing non-kinetic strategies by engaging traditional leaders such as the Tor Tiv to improve community cooperation and intelligence gathering”, he declared.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended Governor Alia for supporting troops with operational assets, including drones, motorcycles, and vehicles, as well as the initiatives of providing educational support to widows of fallen soldiers.
According to General Shaibu, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment and training of over 28,000 troops within a year to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
In his speech, Benue State governor, Revd Fr Hyacinth Alia, commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army for their continued support in improving security in the state.
He appreciated the Nigerian Army and the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their commitment to national security, particularly in Benue, saying the close collaboration between his administration and the military has helped to significantly reduce insecurity across the state.
The governor noted that when his government assumed office on May 29, 2023, about 17 out of the 23 local government areas were heavily affected by insecurity, but sustained efforts have reduced the number of high-risk areas to three, with relative peace now being experienced even in those locations.
The governor also highlighted recent engagements with the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, to strengthen cross-border collaboration to tackle insecurity along their shared boundaries, recalling that following a previous security crisis in the state, the Federal Government responded swiftly to his appeal by deploying three battalions within 24 hours.
Governor Alia, therefore, urged communities to support security agencies with credible intelligence, stressing that uniformed personnel should be seen as partners in safeguarding lives and property.
He further reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting the families of fallen soldiers and emphasised that lasting peace would enable internally displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.
