Army flags off operation Ayem Akpatuma in Taraba, Benue

• Scheme Is To flush Out Hoodlums – COAS

Efforts by both the Taraba State and the Federal governments to clamp down on hoodlums terrorising the state seem to be yielding positive results, as the Nigeria Army, yesterday, flagged off its operation in the state. 

The operation, tagged, ‘Ayem Akpatuma’ (Cat Race), was designed to flush out hoodlums and other undesirable elements from the state’s southern geo-political zone, which has in recent time been prone to vices ranging from Tiv/Jukun killings and kidnappings to armed banditry. 

Flagging off the exercise at Kufai Amadu village in Takum local government council, the State governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, represented by his deputy, Engineer Haruna Manu, expressed optimism that the exercise would go a long way in checkmating hoodlums’ activities. 

Similarly, while launching ‘Operation Ayem Akpatuma II’ in Benue State, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai charged the military personnel to be professional in their conduct and adhere strictly to the rules of engagement. Buratai, represented by the Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Army, Major General Joel Unuigbe, tasked the personnel to stem the tide of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal occurrences in the state. 

Buratai said the army would not condone acts of human rights abuse by the troops involved in the exercise, which would be conducted within One Division,Three Division and the 707 Special Forces Brigade areas of responsibility.He said: “The exercise was earlier conducted to stem rising insecurity in the North Central and part of Northwest Nigeria. The attendant successes recorded necessitated the commencement of Exercise Ayem K’Akpatuma II…”

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Major General Nuhu Angbazo, said the exercise had also commenced in Kogi and Benue States, with the aim of addressing cases of kidnappings and other related vices.The Southern geopolitical zone of the state, comprising Takum, Wukari, Ussa, Donga, Ibi and Yagtu Special Development area, has in recent time witnessed massive killings and wanton destruction of property, following the face-off between the Tiv and Jukun, which is gradually waning, but has compelled several people to seek alternative areas of domicile.