…as operation whirl stroke gets bolstered with fresh air assets
By Nkechi Eze
In a renewed effort to stabilize the North Central region and push back against rising insecurity, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional air assets under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS). The latest deployment is aimed at reinforcing air support for joint military operations, particularly in areas plagued by banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
According to a statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the expanded deployment forms part of a strategic push to strengthen security operations and reassure affected communities. The initiative was further highlighted during a high-level evaluation visit by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, to the Headquarters Tactical Air Command in Makurdi on Monday, 17 June 2025.
The visit featured a strategic briefing session attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; a representative of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira; the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke; and the Air and Maritime Component Commanders. The session focused on reviewing ongoing security challenges and measuring the impact of recent joint operations.
Air Marshal Abubakar confirmed that the new air assets have been fully integrated into the mission structure, providing real-time intelligence, close air support, and precision strike capability. “Our aircraft have continued to conduct surveillance, armed reconnaissance, and targeted strike missions with remarkable success,” the CAS stated. He added that the intensified air campaign has led to the destruction of militia hideouts and bandit enclaves in key flashpoints, significantly degrading the operational capabilities of criminal elements.
The CAS emphasized that the renewed offensive aligns with the Federal Government’s broader vision of restoring peace to the Middle Belt region and beyond. “As long as peace is threatened, our resolve remains unshaken,” he declared, stressing the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to delivering timely and decisive air support in collaboration with sister services.
Beyond military coordination, the Service Chiefs underscored the importance of sustained inter-agency synergy and intelligence-sharing, identifying “jointness” as the key to long-term operational success. They pledged to continue working together to ensure that residents in conflict-prone areas can resume normal lives without fear.
Operation Whirl Stroke was established to address persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central zone. The recent surge in air assets and command-level oversight is seen as a crucial turning point in the campaign to restore peace, particularly in the wake of recent violent incidents in the region.
