BENUE: Two arrested as herdsmen engage Nigerian Army in fierce gun battle

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that suspected herdsmen engaged men of its 707 Special Forces Brigade in a gun battle in Makurdi, Benue State on Tuesday.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 707 Special Force Brigade, Nigeria Army,  Major Olabisi Ayeni, revealed this.

He said the suspects were plotting to attack a fish farm belonging to Samuel Ortom, governor of the state.

Ayeni said two of the attackers had been arrested.

Read also: HERDSMEN: Unsure of FG, Gov Ortom may seek ICC protection as Benue grazing law kicks off Nov 1

“Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, on a routine patrol along Gbajimba – Iyiodeh road in Guma LGA of Benue State on Tuesday 6 February 2018 arrested two Fulani militia who were suspected to be planning a dangerous mission,” he said.

“The troops sighted a group of these people while on their daily patrol. The militia who were suspected to be converging, possibly for an attack on Governor Ortom’s fish farm and other innocent citizens were about to be approached for questioning when they opened fire on the troops who later engaged them.

“When the troops accosted the herdsmen, they opened fire on the troops, who in turn engaged them in a shootout.

“In the course of the shootout, some of the herdsmen fled the area while two were arrested and handed over to the police.”

This is coming just one day after the army listed Benue among the six states where it would launch a 44-day operation to tackle insecurity.

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