Leaked memo by the Department of State Services (DSS), dated May 13th, 2025, have revealed that the Service wrote a security advisory addressed to Moses Gara, Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), on planned attacks by militia herdsmen on communities around Benue and Nasarawa states.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) launched operation Whirl Wind Stroke in Benue State in 2018, which is still in deployment up till mow.
The operation comprises officers and personnel of the military,the police, and the DSS. They are also known as Joint Task Force (JTF).
Inspite of the security advisory on June 13th, the gunmen launched attacks on Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma LGA of Benue, killing over 200 people, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and farmers.
In the Intel now circulation on the social media and not yet disclaimed since yesterday, the secret police stated clearly that “intelligence revealed that suspected Fulani militias were planning to attack settlements in Awe LGA, Nasarawa state, and other communities anytime soon”.
DSS said its investigations have revealed that “the planned attack was to avenge an alleged seizure of some cows by the state government”.
The Intel clearly identified the communities marked for attack as Mararaba, Jangargari, Wurgi, Gidan Antonny, Akon, Usende, Gaar, Vandikya, Chiata, Dooga, Gidan Baban Yara, Apelle, Pantaki, Kaambe and the Stadium area.
The memo also revealed that there were also plans to attack Tiv settlements and border communities between Nasarawa and Benue states by “suspected armed Fulani mercenaries”.
Yelewata, which later fell under an attack that claimed over 100 lives, was one of the communities identified in the memo.
“Reports indicate that they have been holding series of meetings in Akpanaja, Rukuhi and Andori settlements in Doma LGA and have stationed their men at designated forests for a coordinated offensive against the Tiv communities,” the intel reads.
“The militias are currently hibernating at Amako and Igbabo forest located between Mkoma and Doka villages in Doma LGA and Ikom forest, located few kilometers away from Yelwata-Udei-Ukohol and Kadarko Railway in Keana LGA and are planning to attack Agatu, Gwer West/Gwer East/part of Makurdi LGA, as well as Guma and Loko Communities, all in Benue State.”
It was however gathered that following the Intel, Moses Gara, Commander of the OPWS, sometime in May, held a “high-level meeting” with leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Makurdi, Benue state, over the constant attacks in the state.
Lawal Osabo, Acting Assistant Director of the Army Public Relations, 401 Special Forces Brigade/Sector 1 OPWS, in a statement issued on May 28th, said the engagement brought together critical stakeholders, including security agencies and local government authorities.
He stated that “the meeting addressed persistent security threats such as farmer-herder conflicts, retaliatory attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in Benue state”.
He added that the concerns raised during the engagement would be tabled before the state government and relevant security agencies.
Following the recent killings, Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), said troops were in Yelewata on the day of the attack, but were misled by false information that another community was under siege.
The CDS said the assailants attacked Yelewata after the troops moved to the other community.
“Because of the insider information, on the actual day that it (attack) happened, the troops were not there.
“There was a fake attack in the other village when the troops moved in; that is when they came to attack the other one. That is what happened,” the CDS said.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, was reached by a number of media houses for his comment on the DSS intel, but he did not respond to messages sent.
However, Onyinyechi Anele, Director of Army Piblic Relations, asked TheCabe to “speak to the Commander” when she was contacted.
