The Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Moses Gara, has identified criminality, misinformation, and poor road infrastructure as key factors fuelling insecurity and complicating military operations in Benue and neighbouring states.
Speaking on the security situation in the OPWS area of responsibility, which covers Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, the commander said troops have continued to intervene in communal conflicts and farmer-herder disputes to prevent violence and promote peaceful coexistence.
He cited a recent intervention in the Bajimba area of Guma Local Government Area, where a disagreement over a fish pond escalated into violence, resulting in the destruction of property and threats of reprisal attacks.
According to him, OPWS swiftly deployed troops to the area, facilitated dialogue between the parties and restored calm.
“We deployed troops to the area, engaged the parties involved and encouraged dialogue. The situation has since calmed down,” he said.
General Gara noted that poor road infrastructure remains a major challenge to security operations, often delaying troop movement and emergency responses to remote communities during crises.
Despite the limitations, he said the task force has continued to rely on aerial surveillance and support from the Nigerian Air Force to monitor volatile locations and respond to emerging threats.
The commander also expressed concern over what he described as a damaging narrative suggesting that insecurity in Benue is part of a deliberate agenda to displace indigenous communities and seize their ancestral lands.
According to him, the perception has become deeply entrenched and continues to undermine peacebuilding efforts by fostering mistrust and encouraging retaliatory actions.
“There is a very strong perception in some quarters that there is an organised agenda to displace local populations and occupy their ancestral lands. From our operational experience on the ground, that narrative presents one of the greatest challenges to peacebuilding efforts because it fuels mistrust,” he said.
General Gara maintained that military observations in conflict-affected communities do not support claims of systematic occupation of displaced settlements by herders.
“I have personally visited several displaced communities. We have not seen situations where displaced indigenous communities were replaced by herders occupying those settlements,” he stated.
However, he acknowledged that incidents of farmland destruction by livestock had occurred in some areas, describing some of them as retaliatory actions linked to cattle rustling and attacks on herders.
He warned that such actions contribute to the cycle of violence and deepen divisions among communities.
The OPWS commander called on community leaders, opinion moulders and residents to reject inflammatory narratives and support initiatives aimed at dialogue and reconciliation.
He stressed that lasting peace would require cooperation among communities, security agencies and government institutions, while urging residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.
General Gara also called for stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies and local communities in tackling insecurity across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
He noted that although progress was being made, peacebuilding efforts were often hindered by politicisation and conflicting public narratives.
“The reality is that government efforts are also constrained by narratives around the conflict. It places everyone in a difficult position, almost like walking a tightrope,” he said.
The commander highlighted ongoing government initiatives, including the establishment of a Peace and Reconciliation Commission and a 2026–2030 strategic peace plan developed with support from international partners.
According to him, while the initiative is designed to strengthen dialogue and sustainable peace, it has faced resistance from some stakeholders even before implementation.
General Gara observed that support for security and peace initiatives varied across the three states under OPWS operations.
“In Taraba, you can feel the support. In Nasarawa, there is also visible cooperation. But in Benue, the situation is more complex and sometimes uncertain,” he said.
He further disclosed that OPWS recently recorded operational successes, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of weapons and the neutralisation of suspected abductors during raids on criminal hideouts.
The commander lamented that such achievements often receive limited public attention, stressing that effective communication is critical to strengthening public confidence in security operations.
He also revealed that the task force has undertaken several civil-military projects, including the renovation of a primary school and donation of learning materials to pupils in underserved communities.
According to him, these interventions are intended to complement government efforts in areas where basic infrastructure and social services remain inadequate.
General Gara reaffirmed the commitment of OPWS to sustaining operations against criminal elements while deepening collaboration with stakeholders to achieve lasting peace and security across the region.
By Zagazola Makama
