The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Moses Gara, has dismissed claims that the military received prior intelligence about the June 13 attack in Benue State but failed to act, describing the allegation as baseless and harmful.

Speaking to journalists at the OPWS Headquarters in Makurdi, Major General Gara denied a report published by an online news outlet that alleged the existence of a leaked Department of State Services (DSS) memo dated May 13, 2025.

The report claimed the memo warned of the attack but was ignored by military authorities.

“There is no evidence to show that such a memo was ever received at this Headquarters,” Gara said. “If the medium or any other party is in possession of such a document, they should produce proof that it was formally dispatched and received at Headquarters OPWS.”

Gara criticised the report as lacking in credibility and professionalism. He described it as a form of cyberbullying intended to undermine public trust in the military’s operations.

He explained that intelligence and threat alerts are common in counter-insurgency efforts, but that such reports require careful analysis, especially due to the unpredictable nature of asymmetric threats.

He noted that attackers often blend with civilian populations, making it difficult to determine the exact time and location of planned violence.

Gara reaffirmed the military’s commitment to securing lives and property across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. He called on the public to rely on verified information and warned that the spread of unverified claims could incite fear and weaken trust in security agencies.

“This kind of misleading publication does more harm than good. It demoralises our troops, misinforms the public, and emboldens criminal elements,” he said.

The OPWS Commander also urged media outlets to uphold professional standards, particularly when reporting on national security issues.