Military arrests 147 herdsmen in Benue, 15 criminals in Taraba
* Loses 13 soldiers during Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA
The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that a total of 183 criminals were arrested during Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA in Benue and Taraba States .
Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, stated that 147 herdsmen, 6 cultists, 5 rustlers and 6 armed bandits were arrested in Benue State while 15 were arrested in Taraba State.
He said that 13 soldiers were killed and 7 others were wounded in action during the exercise. General Agim said that the arrested suspects were handed over to the Nigeria police for prosecution on various offences.
Agim said, “Several arms and ammunitions were recovered during the Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA in Benue State, including 1- AK47 rifle, 1- FN rifle, 3- AK 47 magazines, 9 – rounds of 7.62mmspecial , 23 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 Dane guns,38 machetes, several spears/axes, 18 Motorcycles, 15 handsets and assorted charms.”
In Taraba State, the military recovered 4 – AK47 rifles,3 Magazines, 96 round of 7.62mm special, 8 rounds of 9mm, 19 locally made guns, 5 locally made pistols, one short gun and 27 live cartridges, he said.
He added that 16 assorted arms and some ammunitions were also recovered by the troops in 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
General Agim said that the presence of the soldiers and other security agencies in Taraba and Benue States during the exercise gave confidence to the villagers and internally displaced persons affected by the herdsmen/ farmers clashes.
He assured that everything is being done to ensure that normalcy return to trouble areas in Taraba and Benue States.
He ,however, said that the exercise has ended in Benue State but extended in Taraba State because of the peculiar security situations on the ground.
He explained that an exercise of that nature can not be for eternity because of cost and logistics.
General Agim, therefore, appealed to Taraba communities to corporate with the military in its effort to bring peace in the area. He said is important for the local communities to refrain from being hostile to troops adding that cooperating with troops will make their task easy.
General Agim also refuted criticism that soldiers sent to Taraba state were bias during their operations. He said that allegation of bias made by top officials of Taraba state government and the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. general Theophilus Danjuma are being investigated by a probe panel.
He assured the public that the military could not be biased because of its peculiar nature of recruitment which catered for all ethnic groups in the country. He, However, assured that members of the panel set up to investigate the allegations will not cover up what is wrong.”
