Fresh Troop Surge Planned As Military Moves To Crush Criminal Networks In North Central
The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday took his security campaign to the heart of Benue’s traditional institutions, rallying royal fathers in a renewed push to stamp out violent criminal networks destabilising the state and neighbouring communities.
The high-level visit to the palace of revered monarchs in Makurdi formed part of a broader operational tour of the North Central theatre, signalling what military authorities describe as a recalibrated offensive against armed groups operating across the Middle Belt.
During the engagement, the Army Chief declared that the Nigerian Army was intensifying efforts to dismantle criminal syndicates threatening lives and livelihoods in Benue State, Nasarawa State and Taraba State. He explained that the tour also involved a strategic review of ongoing operations aimed at strengthening battlefield effectiveness.
Central to the assessment, he disclosed, was a comprehensive evaluation of Operation Whirl Stroke and the 401 Special Forces Brigade headquartered in Makurdi, with a view to sharpening operational responses against emerging threats.
Beyond battlefield engagements, Shaibu stressed that the influence of traditional institutions remains indispensable to restoring enduring stability. He therefore called on respected monarchs across the state to mobilise their communities against criminality and strengthen cooperation with security agencies.
Specifically, he appealed to the Tor Tiv, James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, to leverage his moral authority to reinforce peaceful messaging and discourage any form of support or concealment of criminal elements within local communities.
“Security is a shared responsibility,” the Army Chief declared, noting that while the Armed Forces would continue to apply decisive force against enemies of the state, lasting peace can only emerge when communities reject violence and cooperate with lawful authority.
He further highlighted Makurdi’s long-standing strategic value as a military hub, recalling that elite formations in the area trace their operational heritage to the 72 Special Forces Battalion, now evolved into the 401 Special Forces Brigade tasked with leading specialised operations in the region.
To reinforce ongoing clearance missions, Shaibu announced plans to increase troop density along vulnerable corridors, particularly the Benue–Taraba axis, including the deployment of an additional battalion alongside enhanced logistics support, surveillance assets and rapid response capabilities.
Responding, the Tor Tiv, Ayatse, commended the Nigerian Army for its resilience and sacrifices, while urging the military to deepen preventive strategies in border communities frequently targeted by attackers. He emphasised the value of grassroots intelligence available to traditional rulers and called for stronger institutional collaboration.
The visit, which also conveyed goodwill from the Och’Idoma, Elaigwu Odogbo, underscores a growing alliance between the military and traditional leadership. Security observers say the partnership reflects a broader strategy that blends robust military action with community intelligence and mobilisation to isolate criminal elements and restore lasting peace across the North Central region.