Herdsmen Engage Soldiers In Gun Battle In Benue

Some suspected herdsmen were said to have engaged men of the 707 Special Forces brigade of the Nigerian Army, Makurdi, Benue state in a gun battle on Tuesday.

This disclosure was made by Olabisi Ayeni, Spokesman of the brigade, in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to him, the suspects were plotting to attack a fish farm belonging to Samuel Ortom, Governor of the state.

“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.”

It will be recalled that the Army on Wednesday launched operation Cat Race to tackle the menace of herdsmen killings in Benue and neighbouring states.