Military bloodying noses of militias, bandits in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba States
By Nnaoma Chukwujindum
The Nigerian military under the aegis of Operation Whirl Stroke(OPWS) has been bloodying the noses of militias operating in Benue, Nasarawa,Taraba and Zamfara States, acting Defence spokesman, General John Agim has said.
Gen. Agim in a statement on Monday said troops of OPWS operating in the four states conducted a four prong clearance operations during the weekend. He said the troops At Umaisha and Toto Villages, ambushed the militia following a tip-off of a planned attack on the two villages. He a member of the militia was killed with the military recovering one G3 rifle, 193 rounds of 17.62 mm NATO ammunition, 81 G3 rifle ammunition, a locally made pistol and one FN magazine.
The statement further said one Adamu Abdullahi, a suspected cattle herder at Rukubi in Doma LGA of Nasarawa state was arrested in possession of an identity card of the vigilante group of Nigeria, Nasarawa state command and a photograph in which he posed with an AK47 rifle. He said the suspect is still under interrogation and would be handed over to the police for prosecution after preliminary investigation.
Gen Agim said in a clearance operation across Gwer West, Logo and Guma LGA’s of Benue State was conducted during the weekend, troops encountered heavily armed cattle herders around lower Benue and a militia camp at Chetarer village. The troops engaged the militia and followed the pursuit with M135 Helicopter of their air component.
According to the Defence spokesman, a large number of the militia was neutralized. In all, he said, 35 herders were neutralized and a large number of them escaped with gunshot injuries. He added that a soldier was killed in the exchange of gunfire with two others sustaining light injuries. He said the wounded have been treated a and one soldiers was missing.
Gen. Agim also disclosed that in Nasarawa State, the OPWS arrested one Musa Habu, aged 32 years at Kolo close to Umiasha in Toto Local Government Council He said a number of weapons were recovered from him including one locally made pistol, two cartridges, one Techno phone and cash totalling hundred and thirty naira only. He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who has been handed over to the Directorate of State services (DSS), is linked with some suspected militia in that locality.
In another operation troops of OPWS sector 3 Taraba, on patrol through Kwesati, Manya-Garagun axis arrested eight bandits armed with two AK47 rifles, one K2 rifle and two locally made guns. Ammunitions including 56 rounds of 7.6mm, 25 rounds of k2 and three cartridges, were recovered from the bandits. Other items recovered include charms and phones.
