Military affirms gradual withdrawal of OPWS in three states

The Military of Defence Headquarters has said that it will soon commence the gradual withdrawal of activities of the military spike operation, code-named ‘Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states. OPWS was deployed last year to the three states to stem the herdsmen crisis in the three states. The acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu made this known while touring the operational bases and sector commands of OPWS in Benue and Taraba states. Nwachukwu said the operation had largely achieved the purpose for which it was deployed by restoring peace in the troubled communities of the three states and advised the people not to panic as the withdrawal is going to be gradual and in phases.

“The fact is that we had a mandate to restore peace in the contiguous states and to a large extent we have restored peace in those states and socioeconomic activities are now going on while the people are going about their daily activities in the communities without fear of attacks because we have restored normalcy,” he added.