Ortom inaugurates NSCDC agro-rangers operation in Benue
Governor Samuel Ortom on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) agro-rangers unit to curb security challenges facing the agricultural sector in Benue state.
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday in Makurdi, Gov. Ortom commended the federal government for approving the establishment of agro-rangers operation in the country.
The governor lauded the NSCDC for its resilience and doggedness in ensuring that peace and tranquillity returns to the state and charged the agro-rangers operatives to take the task before them seriously and be professional.
“The task before you is very important. Please put in your best. We are relying on you and other conventional security outfit to maintain the peace in the state and country.
“My administration will continue to assist you in this assignment; we have no other economy to fall back on apart from the food we produce,’’ Gov. Ortom added.
He donated four Toyota Hilux vans and motorcycles to the unit for their operation and pledged to repair all broken down vehicles of the NSCDC state command.
According to him, the state would continue to abide by the rule of law and prayed God to give the operatives strength and wisdom to overcome the criminal elements.
Earlier, the NSCDC Commandant in the state, Kaamilu Isah, said the operation is an initiative of the federal ministries of interior and agriculture and rural development.
Isah said that all members of agro-rangers were drawn from the Special Forces division of the corps, reiterating that the mandate of the unit is to “address security challenges in the agricultural and agro-allied industries in Nigeria, especially in rural communities.”
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He said that the personnel in the unit were highly trained both physically and psychologically.
“They are specially trained to repel all kinds of enemies’ attacks on rural communities.
“The cardinal pillars of the rangers include: special operation raids and fighting patrols designed to seize, capture or destroy enemy facilities or materials,’’ Isah said.
The commandant also said that the rangers were mandated to explore measures to arrest conflict between herders and farmers.
