Participants Of Army War College Course Conduct Study Tour To Operation Safe Haven and Operation Whirl Stroke

Participants Of Army War College Course Conduct Study Tour To Operation Safe Haven and Operation Whirl Stroke

Participants of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 9/2025 successfully conducted an Internal Security Study Tour (ISST) to Plateau and Benue States from 24 to 27 March 2025. The tour was designed to provide firsthand experience in the conduct of Counter-Terrorism (CT), Counter-Insurgency (COIN), and Internal Security (IS) operations, currently being carried out by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

The study tour’s theme, “Coordination in Multi-Agency Operations: Lessons and Innovations for Nigeria’s Security Landscape,” highlights the critical need for seamless collaboration among security agencies in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. As part of the Inter-agency Cooperation and Coordination in Military Operations Module, the tour was designed to give participants a deeper understanding of the dynamics, complexities, and best practices involved in joint and inter-agency security operations.

The participants were divided into two teams, with Team 1 visiting Plateau State and Team 2 visiting Benue State. During the tour, the participants visited several military, security, and government establishments, including the Headquarters 3 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Jos, the Headquarters of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) in Plateau State, and the Headquarters of Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) in Benue State. Other agencies visited included the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Commands, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), among others.

At each location, the participants received comprehensive briefings on the ongoing internal security operations, challenges encountered, and innovative strategies adopted to address insecurity in the region.

The Commandant AWCN, Major General Umar Mohammed Alkali, expressed appreciation for the hospitality and cooperation extended to the study tour teams by the various security agencies and government institutions. He emphasized the crucial role of multi-agency coordination in tackling contemporary security threats in Nigeria. He further charged the participants to critically analyze lessons learned from the study tour and explore innovative ways of enhancing joint military and inter-agency operations. He noted that effective coordination among security agencies is essential for intelligence sharing, operational effectiveness, and the successful execution of national security mandates.

The successful conduct of the Study Tour highlights the AWCN’s commitment to developing strategic-level officers capable of leading joint and inter-agency security operations. The lessons drawn from the tour in Plateau and Benue States will contribute to refining strategies for counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and internal security operations in Nigeria.