The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that it had reinforced its aerial presence under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), deploying more aircraft to support ongoing security efforts in the North-Central region, especially Benue State.
This reinforcement, according to the force, underlines its continued dedication to stabilising the region, aiding ground troops, and providing relief to communities grappling with the impacts of banditry, abductions, and inter-communal violence.
In a statement, the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Ejodame, said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had visited the area to assess the effectiveness of the expanded operations under OPWS.
READ ALSO: Benue Gov rejects self-defense, backs community policing
During the visit, a high-level strategy meeting was held at the Tactical Air Command Headquarters in Makurdi.
“Present at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; a representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira; the Commander of OPWS; and the Maritime and Air Component Commanders, alongside other key stakeholders. Critical updates were provided on the current state of joint operations aimed at restoring lasting peace across the region,” Mr Ejodame stated.
Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the newly deployed aircraft had already been integrated into ongoing operations, providing vital surveillance data and enabling precision air strikes.
He highlighted the Air Force’s continued execution of surveillance flights, armed patrols, air support for troops, and targeted airstrikes—all of which had yielded positive outcomes.
According to him, these deployments align with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to bring lasting peace to the Middle Belt.
He cited recent joint operations across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States as examples, which resulted in the neutralisation of armed groups and the destruction of criminal camps.
He said, “These outcomes reinforce our unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives and supporting national peace-building initiatives. As long as peace is threatened, our resolve remains unshaken.
“The Nigerian Air Force will continue to deliver timely, decisive air support in synergy with sister services, ensuring the protection of lives and properties while advancing our mission of restoring peace to the Middle Belt and beyond.”
The Service Chiefs present underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration, stressing that effective cooperation between the military and other security outfits was crucial to the success of Operation Whirl Stroke.
They reiterated that the overall goal remained the restoration of safe, secure conditions for civilians to live and work without fear.
Meanwhile, the military has firmly denied any involvement in the recent killings in Yelwata, Benue State.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, stated unequivocally that troops were not responsible for the incident.
Supporting this, the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, issued a statement emphasising the military’s adherence to protecting civilian lives and maintaining the rule of law.
He said, “There is no credible evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage within the military relating to the Yelwata incident.”
The military further explained that the Yelwata violence must be viewed within the wider context of recurring communal conflicts in the Middle Belt, driven by persistent disputes over land access, herder-farmer clashes, ethnic rivalry, and resource competition.
READ ALSO: Benue: ‘No farmer-herder clash, it’s animals invading farms’ -CDS Musa
He warned that blaming the massacre on internal betrayal within the Armed Forces was not only incorrect but also distracted from the real drivers of the violence.
General Musa urged communities and security agencies to collaborate in addressing the root causes of unrest.
He also appealed to residents to avoid shielding criminals, assuring them that the military and other security forces were committed to safeguarding all law-abiding Nigerians.
