Gov Otom angry, draws battle line with Agatu people over killing of soldier

The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has ordered that Agatu people of the state must within 72 hours produce those that allegedly killed one of the soldiers deployed to the area for peace keeping.

This was even as Nigerian soldiers, sequel to the alleged killing, reportedly sacked six villages in Agatu, killing six persons, including a pregnant woman.

However, addressing journalists on Wednesday on the killing of the soldier, an incident said to have taken place at Ole Gadakolo, near Egba in Agatu on February 11, the governor extended the state government’s sympathy to the Chief of Army Staff and the commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion which lost a soldier.

“The action is condemnable, I apologize” Ortom said, assuring that his government would work with security agencies and traditional rulers to fish out perpetrators of the dastardly act.

Ortom, who maintained that the killing of a soldier and the beating to coma of two others was wrong, cautioned that the period of mischief and recklessness ended with the carrot approach of his Amnesty Programme.

He therefore urged anyone who still possesses illegal weapons to surrender them or have them recovered by force.

Soldiers were said to have following the killing of one of their own at the weekend by some youths in the area, sacked six villages in Agatu, killing six persons, including a pregnant woman and arresting several others.

Read also: 26-yr-old man to be hanged for slaying friend after drinking binge

The six villagers were Olegadakolo, Ikpele, Otugologwu, Iwali, Okpanchenyi and Egba.

It was learnt that the pregnant woman was hit by a stray bullet at Egba community.

This allegation was however refuted by Brigade Commander of the 707 Special Force, Brig. Clement Apere. He said that soldiers never attacked the people.

Speaking at a press conference he said that only one person was arrested, adding that “the operation we conducted in the area was carried out in a professional way.”

The council’s sole administrator, Mr. Mike Inalegwu, was reported to have also debunked the news that people were killed in Agatu communities by soldiers, but acknowledged the sacking of the community by military personnel.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now