As part of efforts to stem the recurring attacks on riverine communities of Benue state by suspected militant herdsmen, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters has concluded plans to deploy boats to Benue waterways to check the activities of the marauders.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai who made this known in Logo local government area of the state at the end of his tour of some communities plagued by herdsmen crisis in the state said the army was already deploying and positioning enough personnel to patrol and monitor the affected communities.
Buratai said, “One very important thing that I have discovered is that the troops are well positioned and are performing the duties excellently well and they have already given the people the confidence for them to know that there is security and they can go back to their homes. This is very important.
“We are increasing more troops to be deployed to cover the area. You know, that place (where Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states have a common border) is sort of where the three states converge together, they have a common boundary.
“So, it is very important for us to look at it and see how we can further reinforce the troops and the mobility on the water is also very critical which we are also looking into.
“Already, there is a planning committee on the ground from the Defence Headquarters who are working on this and there are a lot of boats that have been brought in for deployment in the waters.
“So the people should be rest assured that the place will further be safe for them to go back to their farms and be rest assured there is security to cover them.
“The most important thing is that they, the people, should support the military in terms of provision of information that will help us in flushing out the bandits or criminal elements that are operating within the environment.
