The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has said the Nigerian Army (NA) would surge troops’ deployment in Benue State to curb illicit activities of bandits and armed herders in the State.
The Army Chief made the disclosure Tuesday, 31 October 2023, while responding to a call by the Executive Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father (Dr) Hycinth Alia, who visited the Army Headquarters in Abuja, to establish an additional Battalion and Forward Operations Bases in Benue State.
TheFact Daily recalls that gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen had on the night of Tuesday, 17th October, stormed three communities in Logo and Gwer West Local Government Areas of the State and killed nine people. The incident occurred just three days after suspected armed herders invaded Imatom village in the same Logo LGA and killed three people.
Only yesterday, this news medium reported that suspected armed herdsmen, on Sunday, 29th October, killed five persons in Gwer West Local Government Area, in two separate attacks. Two of the victims of the attack were relatives of the State Police Command’s spokeswoman, Sewuese Anene.
Gen. Lagbaja, who disclosed that the NA is reviewing the activities and threat disposition in Benue, stated that the intervention becomes necessary due to the recalcitrance of herders and farmers, who incessantly attack each other and vulnerable communities in Benue and contiguous states.
While calling on the Government and people of Benue State to support NA’s non-kinetic operations to complement the NA efforts in bringing lasting peace and stability to the State, the COAS also expressed appreciation to the government for its support and interventions in NA formations and units deployed in the State.
He assured that combat enablers will be provided to enhance the capacity of the formation and units deployed in and around the State for effective operations.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, in his remarks, had advocated for the establishment of additional Forward Operations Bases (FOB) in the State to curtail security challenges orchestrated by bandits and Armed herders.
The Governor noted that lives and property have been lost, especially in the hinterland through the atrocious activities of bandits, herders, and other armed groups.
He clarified that Benue State is prone to security challenges, as a result of its borders with contiguous States and the discovery of solid minerals in some local government areas of the State, and called for proactive steps to ensure peace and security in trouble-prone areas.
Governor Alia lauded the troops of the NA, sister services, and other security agencies for their sacrifices in combating security challenges, and urged them not to relent.
