Why we invade Agatu communities…..—Gen Apeere

BRIGADE Commander 707 Special Forces, Brig. Gen. Clement Apeere have adduced reasons for carrying out military operation in Agatu Communities.

Speaking at a press conference held at the temporary office of the force located at Hoodko quarters, Makurdi, Apeere said that troops of 72 Special force battalion were deployed to the area to recover the body of the slain soldier and arms and ammunition.

According to him, ‘on receiving the information, the troops of special forces battalion moved to Oweto to recover the body of the killed soldier, the troops conducted Condon and search operations to apprehend youth militias that committed the act and recover the soldier’s rifle and ammunition they carried away’.

He said that during the operation, several sophisticated weapons, ammunition, such as, two AK 47 rifles, two SLR rifles, two G3 rifles, one fabricated pistol, three locally made pistols, two short barrel local revolver guns and 14 dane guns as well as police and military kits.

Apeere said ‘the operation we conducted in the area was carried out in a professional way, adding, that his men were able to achieve their mission during the operation.

“We got intelligence where the hoodlums were, we swooped on the areas but before we got there some of them have escaped but could not escape with the arms and ammunitions’.

The Brigade commander, when asked of the sacking of six communities in Agatu and killing of six persons including a pregnant woman, said that the aim of the operation was to secure lives and property.

“Our aim is to protect law abiding citizen, ‘when military conduct operation like that there are lot of stories, those who are peddling that rumor are the enemies of that area”, he said.