Troops raid Benue communities, recover weapons
Several weapons have been recovered in two communities of Agatu Local Government Area in Benue State, following a military operation carried out in the area on Monday.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, in a statement signed and mailed to our correspondent in Makurdi on Tuesday, also encouraged the public in the general area to come up with credible information to enable the troops to be proactive.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in conjunction with NAF Special Forces as well as 72 Battlion troops in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) carried out a cordon and search operation in Odogoke and Odejo communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State to apprehend bandits following deadly clashes on 23 March 2020. During the operation, the bandits fled the area, abandoning their weapons.
“Items recovered from the two settlements include: one double barrel gun, 19 locally made rifles, one pistol, four rounds of 7.62x54mm ammunition, three cartridges for pump action rifle among other accoutrements,” the statement stated.
Onyeuko added that normalcy had returned to the communities and general security in the area remains calm, emphasising that troops dominated the general area with fighting patrols to ensure peace and stability in the area.
Daily Trust reports that penultimate week, two communities in Agatu LGA fought over a fish pond leading to the death of five persons.