Troops commence 7-day special operation to clear forests, communities in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba The joint military operation covering Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, codenamed Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, has commenced a 7-day operation in the three states to clear bandits and armed herders in forests and communities located in the states. Though no formal statement has been issued to that effect by the Commander of the OPWS, Brig. Gen. Clement Apere, a military source told reporters yesterday in Makurdi that the operation became necessary to check the incessant attacks on communities in Benue state particularly by armed herdsmen. He explained that the operation would also be covering islands behind the Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering, NASME, barracks in Makurdi and Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area of Benue state which were identified as locations usually used as hideouts by armed herders from Nasarawa state before they launch attacks on unsuspecting victims in the state.