Benue Govt Hails Troops Over Operation Whirl Stroke
Msughshima Andrew, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has expressed appreciation to all the security agencies involved in Operation Whirl Stroke, particularly troops of the armed forces for their effectiveness in curtailing the menace of killer herdsmen in the state.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom made this commendation while briefing newsmen today, through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Lawrence Onoja Jnr.
Governor Ortom who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for upgrading and replacing the military Exercise Ayem Akpatuma with a full scale military operation said the operative has been very effective.
He recalled that state government had called for a full military operation to flush out the blood thirty herdsmen militia who invaded several communities in the state since January 1st, 2018, carrying out barbaric killings and engaging in a scorched earth policy of destroying everything in sight.
He decried the activities of the marauding insurgents saying more than 500 people have been killled since January while million others displaced with attendant enormous humanitarian crisis.
“The Benue State Emergency Management Agency registered more than 180, 000 displaced persons which it has been catering for in eight camps while over 500, 000 IDPs are taking shelter wherever they find space“.
He however noted that since the commencement of the military operation on May 18, 2018, the spate of attacks have been reduced with the invaders chased away in several communities thus enabling some of the displaced persons to return to their villages.
“This no mean feat is being achieved at great expense with some of those involved paying the supreme sacrifice while others have suffered various degrees of injuries.
“We specially acknowledge, commend and appreciate the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major Adeyemi Yekini and all the security personnel involved in the operation for their sacrifices for peace, law and order in our state“.
Ortom therefore, expressed hope that all those involved in other sectors of the operation in Nasarawa, Taraba, and Zamfara would be this committed to rid the States of the herdsmen manace.
He urged Benue people to volunteer useful information to security agencies to enable them deliver on the mandate of the operation and pledged government’s full cooperation with the provision of logistics that will support the operation.
The Governor also urged the operation to continue to abide and execute orders as stated by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim which include to track, fish out and come down heavily on the camps of the militants and to shoot and kill any cow used as shield.
Ortom further called for the arrest of the leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN as well as those of the Fulani Nationality Movement who have openly claimed responsibility for the pogrom in Benue and other states of the Country.
