BENUE: 35 herdsmen killed in battle with Air Force, DHQ says

A total number of 35 herdsmen have been killed in the Gwer, Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State, so says the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

According to Brig Gen John Agim, the Director of Information, DHQ, the armed herdsmen where annihilatIon by the air force’s Mi-35 attack helicopter during an exchange with the insurgents.

He added that the military was on Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states, when the troops encountered the herdsmen in the bloody encounter.

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Brig Gen Agim said, “In the clearance operation across the Gwer West, Logo and the Guma LGAs of Benue, troops made contact with heavily armed herdsmen around the lower Benue area and a militia camp at Chetarer village. The troops engaged the militia and followed the pursuit with Mi-35 helicopter of the air component.

“This led to a large number of them being neutralised. In all, 35 herdsmen were neutralised and a large number of them escaped with gunshot injuries. However, a soldier was killed in action, two sustained slight injuries. They have been treated and discharged. Also, one soldier is still missing in action.

“Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke operating in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states conducted four clearance operations during the weekend. At Umaisha and Toto villages of Nasarawa, troops ambushed the militia and killed one. A suspected herdsman, Adamu Abdullahi, in Rukubi in the Doma LGA of Nasarawa State was arrested.”

He added that Abdulahi and other arrested suspects would be handed over to concerned authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

 

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