The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional air assets under Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, to bolster security efforts in Benue and other parts of the North Central region following the massacre in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 people were reportedly killed.
In a statement on Tuesday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet (note: original said Ehimen Ejodame, but Gabkwet is the current NAF PRO unless updated) said the deployment is part of a broader strategy to support ground forces, restore public confidence, and enhance intelligence-led operations targeting armed groups and criminal elements in the region.
To assess the expanded operations, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, paid a strategic visit to the Headquarters of Tactical Air Command in Makurdi on June 17, 2025.
The visit featured a high-level engagement involving Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, representatives of the Navy, and top commanders from both maritime and air components of OPWS.
The Air Chief was briefed on the operational tempo and outcomes of recent joint missions. He disclosed that the newly deployed assets have significantly boosted capabilities in surveillance, armed reconnaissance, close air support, and precision strikes.
“Our aircraft continue to carry out targeted operations with commendable success, dismantling militia camps, bandit strongholds, and other criminal hideouts across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States,” Abubakar said.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s mission to stabilize the Middle Belt, noting that synergy among the military branches is essential to achieving lasting peace.
“As long as peace is threatened, our resolve remains firm,” the CAS stated. “The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide decisive air support in collaboration with other security agencies to safeguard lives, restore order, and promote national stability.”
The Service Chiefs at the meeting reaffirmed that inter-agency collaboration and operational jointness remain the backbone of OPWS, and that security forces are united in their goal to create a safe environment where communities can thrive without fear.
