After months of the herdsmen crisis in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states, the Nigerian Army on Wednesday announced a plan to commence ‘Exercise Ayem Akpatuma’ in the Middle Belt and the North Central states to tackle the crisis.
The army said the exercise tagged, Ayem Akpatuma, a Tiv expression that means “cat race,” would hold in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states from February 15 to March 31.
The Army Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. David Ahmadu, who announced this in Abuja on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the exercise would involve raids, cordon-and-search operations, roadblocks, show of force and checkpoints.
When asked if the exercise was a Presidential directive, Ahmadu told our correspondent that the army was simply “performing our constitutional roles.”
He said, “Exercise Ayem Akpatuma will be conducted in 1 and 3 divisions covering Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states. The exercise has become more expedient due to the upsurge in cases of banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in Kaduna and Niger states as well as herdsmen/farmers’ clashes and attacks on communities, particularly in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states, by armed militias.
“These security challenges have continued unabatedly in these states despite the efforts by other security agencies to curb them. The need for troops to be exercised and imbibe the requisite skills to cope with these security challenges calls for this exercise. This exercise will be conducted in conjunction with the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“It will also afford the troops an opportunity to checkmate the activities of the militias perpetrating criminal acts in these states and the environs. Emphasis will be placed on raids, cordon-and-search operations, anti-kidnapping drills, roadblocks, checkpoints and show of force, as well as humanitarian activities such as medical outreaches.”
No comments:
Post a Comment