The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, has deployed troops of the COAS Special Intervention Battalion XV to reinforce the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
The deployment, according to OPWS spokesman, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu aimed at strengthening internal security and stabilising vulnerable communities, followed the completion of an intensive Special Forces training at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora.
He said that the newly trained soldiers have been assigned to key operational theatres nationwide, including Operation Whirl Stroke, as part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks and curb banditry and other violent crimes in the region.
The troops according to Zubairu on arrival at the Joint Operations Area displayed high morale and combat readiness, with the Force Commander of OPWS expressing confidence that their presence would inject fresh momentum into ongoing operations.
The Force Commander, OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, while welcoming the troops, urged them to apply the skills and discipline acquired during training with professionalism and resilience.
He stressed that the operational environment requires decisive action against terrorist and criminal elements, adding that there would be no room for complacency.
Major General Gara also charged the soldiers to collaborate with other security agencies, maintain operational security and uphold the Nigerian Army’s core values and rules of engagement.
The troops were further sensitised on the responsible use of social media and the need to maintain cordial relations with host communities while respecting human rights.
