– Benue community reports influx of armed herders, destruction of crops

By Samson Kukwa-Yanor, Makurdi

Following sustained attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on Benue communities in recent weeks, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiaogbu, has led a team of tactical operatives on a clearance operation to surrounding forests in the affected communities.

Police Public Relations Officer, Benue state command DSP Udeme Edet disclosed the areas covered by the operation as Ankpechi, Ogelewo And Ondo-Ugboju communities in Ohimini and Otukpo council areas.

The police said that the operation also extends to the Idekpa forest which has been identified as one of the major terrorists and kidnappers hideouts.

“We are here at Idekpa forest, another dangerous forest where the bandits are hibernating. Though it is not possible to locate the actual spot, information at our disposal indicates that most times the bandits make incursions onto the road, carry out their activities and return to the forest again,” he said.

According to him, although the exact location of the camp was not yet identified during the day’s operation, the CP promised that the police will return with a better strategy.

“But since it was not possible today, we are going back to replan and locate the spot where they have a camp and we must ensure we drive them away. We cannot continue to allow them to hibernate within these areas and constitute a nuisance to residents. So the earlier we flush them out, the better for us,” the CP stated.

Nwadiaogbu further disclosed that additional tactical teams have been deployed to strategic villages across the two local governments to ensure rapid response to distress calls.

“We already have more men on ground, deployed strategically in various villages. It is not possible to deploy to all the villages in this area. That is why we chose strategic villages from where we can launch reinforcement anywhere there is a distress call. Our patrol teams will continue to move round and provide reinforcement where necessary,” he explained.

The Commissioner assured residents that the Police would sustain the clearance operations until all identified hideouts are cleared and normalcy returns to the affected communities.

The latest operation comes amid heightened insecurity in parts of Otukpo and Ohimini  where residents have been forced to flee their homes following repeated attacks.

Meanwhile, residents of Logo local government council have reported the influx of armed Fulani herdsmen into several communities in locality.

According to local sources, armed herders have been sighted in Tombo, Mbagber, and Ukemberegya/Tswarev council wards. Already locals have complained of  attacks on farmers, assault of women and widespread destruction of farmlands as cattle graze through rural settlements.

The alleged activities have heightened tension in the affected communities, with residents calling on the government and security agencies for urgent intervention.