Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Several dead as army troops battle with militia in Benue state

 https://www.naija.ng/1184566-several-dead-army-troops-battle-militia-benue-state.

The army troops killed an unspecified number of the militia while trying to dislodge them from their camp 

Troops of the Nigerian Army, on Saturday, August 4, while on a clearance operation along Gbajimba to Akor area of Guma local government in Benue state found the men armed with AK-47 rifles with large herds of cattle and engaged them. The Punch reports that the army said the troops killed an “unspecified number of the militiamen while others escaped into nearby bushes with gunshot injuries.”

Weapons recovered from the militia group include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 rifle magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and five motorcycles. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, confirmed the incident to journalists. Chukwu said efforts were on to get other fleeing members of the militia group.

 He said: “Troops deployed in Operation Whirl Stroke in the Guma LGA encountered militiamen with large herds of cattle. “The troops dislodged the militiamen from their camp following superior firepower. Unspecified numbers of the men were killed by the troops. Efforts are on to get other fleeing members of the militia.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on Wednesday, August 1, raised the alarm over planned invasion of part of the state by herdsmen with over 10,000 cattle as part of a grand plan to further destabilise the state. The governor said reports reaching him from the Guma Council boss, Anthony Shawon, said that the herdsmen had already taken over part of the area and were grazing freely. Read more: https://www.naija.ng/1184566-several-dead-army-troops-battle-militia-benue-state.html?utm_source=mailfire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=reaction_pusher#1184566

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