Suspected herdsmen have sacked 400 pupils of Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Daudu in Mbatoho Chile, an island close to Benue State Government House of Makurdi local government area from their school.
This happened at the commencement of Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma by the military to check the incursion of herdsmen into parts of Benue State.
Mr. Otave Ephraim, the head teacher of the school on the Island, said “All my pupils who are close to 400, have been chased out of school and displaced due to the activities of the herdsmen who have taken over the entire island and chased out the locals.”
The invaders also rendered more than 5,000 Tiv inhabitants of the community homeless and wasted several houses, farmlands and food barns of their victims.
Vanguard gathered from some of the displaced persons who fled into Makurdi main town from the island to seek the state government’s intervention, that the well-armed herdsmen started the action of attacking the island some four days ago.
Chief Peter Tachie, community leader of the Island, said: “The armed herdsmen who are usually dressed in black started their action four days ago in our community.
“They came in their numbers with their cattle into the island from Guma local government area on foot some weeks ago because the water level of River Benue has dropped significantly, so they could assess the island on foot.
“Four days ago, they started destroying our houses, farmlands and food barns and also taking over the LGEA Primary school in the island and converting same for personal use.
“As we speak, no Tiv person is on that island at the moment, they have taken our farms and also uprooted our cassava from our plantation to feed their cattle which are also grazing on our farmland.
“You know that we do a lot of dry season farming on the Island and as we speak, all that we planted in this dry season have been destroyed by the herdsmen and their cattle.”
When contacted, the Benue State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said the command had received reports of the development.
When contacted, Fatai Owoseni, the Benue State Police Commissioner, said the command had received reports of the development.
Speaking on the issue, Mr. Benson Abounu, Deputy Governor of Benue State, said the government was yet to get full details of the development, explaining that “They have destroyed all that we spent years to acquire.
So, we have all moved into Makurdi main town with our families to seek government’s attention before the situation will get of hand. Lt. Col. Paul Hemba, retd, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, had been directed to liaise with the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to ascertain the veracity of the development.
“We are not sure of what is happening in that place because it is an island but the Adviser on Security has been directed to liaise with the Commissioner of Police and come out with a clearer picture of the true position of things in that place.” Abounu said.
Meanwhile, in continuation of Exercise Ayem Akpatuma, troops of Nigerian Army deployed to the state on February 26, 2018, have arrested 10 herdsmen for destroying farmlands in Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages.
The troops in separate operations also arrested five cultists in Katsina Ala as well as gun runners and cattle rustlers.
Confirming the arrests in a statement, the Army said: “The efforts of the Nigerian Army to fish out criminals and protect farmlands in Benue State and it environs on the ongoing Exercise Ayem Akpatuma is yielding tremendous result as troops of Sector 1 Sub-Sector A, deployed at Yelwata while on routine patrol arrested 10 herdsmen destroying farmland at Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages on Monday, February 26, 2018.
“While in the act of destroying the farmland, the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush. The determined troops pursued and arrest them.
“Items recovered were: 5 motorcycle, 2 machetes, some assorted charms and N120,000. Suspects and items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for further necessary action.
“The Nigerian Army is determined to fish out criminals and recover weapons use in killing innocent citizens. Therefore the public is please requested to cooperate and support the Army on the ongoing exercise.”
In a similar vein, troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade conducting Exercise Akpatuma arrested five suspected cultists on Sunday, February 25, 2018, at Katsina Ala local government area of Benue State.
Preliminary investigation conducted revealed that the suspects were said to be students of College of Education, Katsina Ala, who were about to be initiated as new members.
Troops acted on credible information followed by raid operations which led to their arrest.
The suspects arrested include Mr Dennis Victor Terfa, Mr Emmanuel Daniel Akpagher, Mr Akuse Jacob Aondongu, Mr Kpo Isaac and Mr Idika Kelechi.
Similarly, troops operating at Sector C of same Exercise carried out cordon and search operations at Ukum Local Government Area which also led to the arrest of gun runners and cattle rustlers.
