Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Maj. Gen. Moses Gara on Tuesday undertook a maiden joint land and maritime operational tour of Gidan Pepa in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State and Loko in Nasarawa State.
The operational tour is aimed at assessing the security architecture and effectiveness of deployed troops within the Joint Operations Area.
The visit featured a riverine patrol along critical water corridors, underscoring the Commander’s focus on integrated multi-domain operations in stabilizing volatile flashpoints.
At both operational locations, the Commander commended troops for their dedication to maintaining peace and urged them to remain combat-ready, mission-focused, and committed to fostering civil-military cooperation with local communities.
He pledged swift completion of ongoing accommodation projects to enhance troops’ welfare and assured the delivery of essential operational assets, including all-terrain motorcycles, communication equipment, and other mission-critical tools to improve mobility and command efficiency in challenging terrain.
Reinforcing discipline and vigilance, he told the troops: “Keep your weapons clean and your ears to the ground. Intelligence is your first layer of defence.”
Gen Gara expressed gratitude to Hon. Shuaibu Umar, Sole Administrator of Loko, and Mr. Mike Ejiwo, a respected elder of Gidan Pepa, for their support and positive appraisal of troop conduct.
Mr. Ejiwo noted that the community has enjoyed over five years without farmer-herder clashes due to effective military presence.
Highlighting the military’s commitment to personnel welfare, the Commander noted that the Nigerian Armed Forces remained the only institution to have increased ration cash allowance in line with current economic realities.
“We cannot call ourselves your commanders if we cannot take care of you. I came here to say, ‘well done’”, he stated.
He was accompanied by Brigadier General H.I. Audu, Commander of Sector 2 OPWS; the Maritime Component Commander; the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Component Commander; and other senior officers.
The operational tour also covered Yelwata, a strategic settlement, to evaluate the security situation and reinforce troop presence.
