OPWS Enables Return of Over 60,000 IDPs in Benue, Taraba, Others — Commander
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Nigerian military says sustained operations under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have facilitated the return of over 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes and farmlands across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states since January 2025.
The Commander, 401 Special Forces Brigade, Brigadier General Kolawole Oyebanji Bukoye, made this known on Tuesday in Makurdi during an operational briefing to defence correspondents.
He said communities recently resettled include Agbatse and Abande in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, as well as Aiyla, Ochulokpa, Akaida, Eba, Maikudi, Aku, Okokolo and Ochalanya in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
READ ALSO: Benue, Taraba Ops: Troops Rescue 657 Kidnap Victims Since Jan 2025
According to him, the return of displaced persons was achieved through a combination of military operations, confidence-building measures and structured reconciliation efforts involving affected communities.
Bukoye said troops facilitated peace and reconciliation meetings between Opatani, Omangede, Tiv and Fulani communities, alongside engagements with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Agatu, Loko, Ibi and Omala Local Government Areas of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
He added that as part of civil-military cooperation, troops distributed 2,800 bags of 50kg fertiliser to farmers to boost agricultural production and strengthen relations with host communities.
The commander said the combined efforts have led to the restoration of law and order in several communities, assuring that the Nigerian military remains committed to sustaining peace within the Operation Whirl Stroke area.
