Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, stated the Nigerian Army will increase military deployment in the Benue area to combat the illegal activities of bandits, armed herders, and other militia groups in the area.
According to Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, the COAS issued the guarantee on Tuesday in response to a request from Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Alia had proposed the formation of an extra battalion and advanced operations sites in Benue State during a visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The COAS, who disclosed that the Nigerian Army is reviewing the activities and threat disposition in Benue, stated that the intervention becomes necessary due to the recalcitrance of herders and farmers, who incessantly attack each other and vulnerable communities in Benue and contiguous states.
He also called on the government and people of Benue State to support the Army’s non-kinetic operations to complement efforts in bringing lasting peace and stability to the state.
Lagbaja expressed appreciation to the government for its support and interventions in Army formations and units deployed in the state, just as he assured that combat enablers will be provided to enhance the capacity of the formation and units deployed in and around the state for effective operations.
Earlier, Alia had advocated for the establishment of additional Forward Operations Bases (FOB) in the state to curtail security challenges orchestrated by bandits and armed herders.
The governor noted that lives and property have been lost, especially in the hinterland through the atrocious activities of bandits, herders and other armed groups.
He clarified that Benue State is prone to security challenges as a result of its borders with contiguous states and the discovery of solid minerals in some local government areas of the state and called for proactive steps to ensure peace and security in trouble prone areas.
He lauded the troops of the Nigerian Army, sister services and other security agencies for their sacrifices in combating security challenges, urging them not to relent.
