Maj Gen Sunday Igbinomwanhia, the commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), has stated that the military will continue to reassess its tactics and methods against the state’s enemies.
Igbinomwanhia’s assertion was made on Wednesday during a stakeholder gathering with attendees from the states of Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
He claimed that OPWS’s success in minimising conflicts between farmers and herders in the three states was due to the cooperation of civilian and military authorities.
He noted that the use of force and nonviolent methods by OPWS has greatly improved the security situation between farmers and herders compared to 2017.
According to the commander:
“This has greatly helped in reducing killings as well as criminality and has restored normalcy. The mandate of the operation is to put an end to the incessant killings of innocent citizens by armed robbers, bandits, armed herdsmen, militia groups, and other criminal elements in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.”
Aondongu Saaku, the chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria’s (AFAN) Benue State chapter, expressed concern over the continuous violence between crop and livestock farmers and said that both groups deserved peace.
Dr. Victoria Daaor, a member of the civil society group, stated that conversation is the greatest way to mediate peace between farmers and herders.
Daaor praised OPWS for taking such a commendable move and emphasised that it was the proper course of action.
cc: Daily Post Ng
