Military deny fresh herdsmen attack reports in Benue
- The Nigerian military have said there is no truth in reports of new killer herdsmen attacks on Benue despite its presence
- Force commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) Major General Yekini said it did not receive reports of any such attack
- Major General Yekini noted that with military men stationed across the state, there was no way killer herdsmen would kill 15 people
The Nigerian military have denied reports of fresh attack by killer herdsmen on Benue communities in the central part of the country.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that Maj.Gen Adeyemi Yekini, Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) denied reports that herdsmen killed 15 Benue indigenes in a renewed attack on communities in the state.
Yekini made the denial in a statement he signed and released on Saturday, January 26 in Makurdi. He said there were no such killings in the state.
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He said: ”The headquarters of OPWS, wish to state that the force did not receive any report of a single killing or even injury inflicted by armed herdsmen on anybody in any part of Benue state in the past several months.
”OPWS has troops in all the areas mentioned including Makurdi and there is no way up to 15 people would be killed without our troops being aware of it.
”Such a large number of killings would have triggered exodus of people in the affected communities , which journalists would have captured almost as they happen.
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”There are also other security agencies on ground including traditional, military units, Police, Civil Defense and DSS personnel, who would have filed reports of the killings through their respective channels while also exchanging such information with us.
”HQ OPWS is requesting the good people of Benue to disregard the news and go about their normal business activities without fear, with assurance that OPWS remains resolutely committed to restoring lasting peace to Benue State.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported recently that Benue state governor Samuel Ortom's stand against activities of herdsmen in the state has remained unmoved.
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The governor said that there were no room for cattle grazing routes in the state. Ortom made this claim on Thursday, January 17, at the NKST Church, Buruku, while interacting with the officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari had said during a live town hall discussion that the herdsmen-farmers crises could be traced to the encroachment of grazing routes that existed in the state.
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Source: Legit.ng