Troops arrest 10 herdsmen for destroying farms in Benue

By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Troops deploy in Benue State under the ongoing a�?Exercise Ayem Akpatumaa�? have arrested 10 herdsmen for destroying farmlands in Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages.
The troops from Sector 1 Sub-Sector A, deployed in Yelwata arrested the suspect during a routine patrol.
The Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said that the herdsmen fled into the bush when they sighted the troops.
He said that the determined troops pursued and arrested them, listing the items recovered from the herders as five motorcycles, two machetes, charms and the sum of N120,000.
Both the suspects and the items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for prosecution.
In a statement he issued on Tuesday, Chukwu said that the 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,” he said.
Similarly, troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade of the same a�?Exercise Ayem Akpatumaa�? have arrested five suspected cultists in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The suspects are believed 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 are Dennis Victor Terfa, Emmanuel Daniel Akpagher, Akuse Jacob Aondongu, Kpo Isaac, and Idika Kelechi.