Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday, alerted the NSCDC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps over the influx of Fulani herdsmen in the state.
Ortom who stated this at the launch of Agro Rangers at the Zonal headquarters of the Corps in Makurdi said that the herdsmen were armed with sophisticated weapons.
While lauding the federal government for establishing the Operation Agro Rangers in the state, Governor Ortom said that it will complement in the fight against Insurgency.
He also lauded the NSCDC personnel for their resilience and doggedness in ensuring that peace and tranquility return in the state.
He enjoined the Agro-Rangers officers to take the task before them seriously and be professional in the discharge of their operation and donated four Hilux vans, motorcycles to the operation and pledged to repair all their damaged operational vans.
Ortom pledged that the state would continue to abide by the rule of law and prayed to God to give the officers strength and wisdom to overcome the criminals.
Earlier speaking, the State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Kaamilu Isah said all members of Agro-Rangers were drawn from the Special Forces Division of the Corps “to address security challenges in the Agricultural and Agro-allied industries in Nigeria, especially in rural communities”
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He said, ‘the personnel in the unit are highly trained both physically and psychologically. They are specially trained to repel all kinds of enemies’ attacks on rural communities.”
“The cardinal pillars of Rangers include special operation raids and fighting patrols designed to size, capture or destroy enemy facilities or materials.
The Commandant further disclosed that the functions of the Rangers include arresting the escalating conflict between herders and farming communities.
He said they would also provide security for all Agricultural investments in the country, thereby, ensuring a secured food value-chain from the farmers, all the way to the final consumers.
He, however, said the operation would require operational vehicles and logistics to achieve maximum success.
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