Troops kill 21 herdsmen in Benue

COMMANDER of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini yesterday (OPWS) said that troops have killed 21 armed herdsmen along Gbajimba-Akor-Tomata axis of Guma Local Government area of Benue State.

General Yekini who briefed newsmen on the activities of the operation in the past one month said that the deceased who were killed in separate operations were among groups of armed herdsmen who were riding on motorcycles and moving along the Guma axis towards Nasarawa State.

The commander confirmed that one soldier was killed and two others injured when herdsmen engaged the troops along Gbajimba-Akor-Tomata last Saturday.

He further said that the number of casualties among the herdsmen during the initial encounter could not be ascertained, noted that while the fighting was going on a Mi35 helicopter that was scrambled to provide air support for the troops sighted the armed herdsmen on motorcycles.

“During the firefight, the Mi35 spotted a group of about 20 armed herdsmen riding on motorcycles moving along the axis towards Nasarawa State. 15 of the armed herdsmen on five motorcycles were neutralized with rocket fire from the Mi35 while others escaped with varying degrees of injury.

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“Our troops chased remaining herdsmen until contact was broken close to the boundary between Nasarawa and Benue State. Plans are in progress to conduct further clearance operations of the border areas between the two states,” Yekini said.

General Yekini who said that another operation was carried out last Saturday in Katsina Alla area which suggested that Benue most wanted terrorist, Terwase Akwasa must have been killed.

“The raid operation which took place at Tse Akwaza camp belonging to Gana in Kastina-Ala commenced at about 0500hours on 18th August, 2018 through JatoAka-Kashimbila-Tyotsar axis but was suspended due to bad terrain and damaged bridge at Tyotsar which troops could not cross due to flooding.

“It was not clear if Gana was killed during the assault, but trail of blood seen in the building suspected to be where he slept suggests he might have been hit.

“A motor cycle usually used by Gana was also badly damaged during the air strike, many sacks of substance suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered and burnt”, General Yekini said.

While positing that efforts were ongoing to confirm if Gana was killed in the attack, Yekini vowed that the troops would still go after him if it is certain that he is still alive.

Yekini said troops have been able to recover seven automatic weapons from armed militia men in the last six weeks, the Force Commander said the modest achievement of the OPWS resulted in the gradual return of about 135,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes and farmlands.