By Adekunle Aliyu with Agency Report
Oukolade explains military operations in Benue
Two villages in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State were attacked yesterday afternoon, killing 28 people .
Also the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, on Friday said the deployment of troops to some state in the North-Central was aimed at restoring normalcy in those states.
The attacks took place at around 12:00 noon, local time, yesterday in Maitsaba and Birnin-Tsaba villages in the Zurmi local government area of the state.
In recalling the incidents, the Chairman of Zurmi local government , Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Gurbin-Bore, told newsmen yesterday in Gusau, that the Gunmen were seen dressed in Nigerian Military uniforms, and riding about 50 motorcycles.
The gunmen encircled the agrarian villages, and began shooting sporadically.
Along with the 28 people who were killed, 20 houses were burnt, with essential grains harvested by the local farmers destroyed.
Zurmi local government is about 100 km from Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, and home to the Inspector General of Police, M.D Abubakar, and Minister of Defence, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.
As at press time, no group has claimed responsibility for the two attacks.
Also the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, on Friday said the deployment of troops to some state in the North-Central was aimed at restoring normalcy in those states.
Olukolade told newsmen that the troops had made appreciable progress by recovering cache of ammunition from the suspected herdsmen in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area.
Olukolade was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Div. Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, and the Director of Operations, Maj.-Gen. Fatai Alli.
He said they were at the camp to boost the morale of troops at a field operations camp in the outskirts of Naka.
The spokesman assured the people of the state of their safety, and advised those that have fled to return.
According to him, the troops are strategically stationed across the state to guarantee your safety.
He said the operations were also aimed at confidence building for the purpose of dispelling negative insinuations concerning the crises.
Olukolade said the intervention of the military in the crises was at the right time when all that was done to curb the crises had failed.
He said the soldiers that were deployed to the state were sufficient to contain any insurgency.
“The men are prepared for the operations and are sufficient to manage the situation.
“We are conducting effective and efficient patrols to ensure that the whole place is dominated by military presence,” he said.
He appealed to those going about their legitimate businesses not to be intimidated by the heavy presence of the military within their locations.
“The men know what they are looking for, they are professional soldiers and do not harass innocent citizens.’’ he assured.
On his part, the GOC said he had been redeploy to Makurdi to ensure a speedy end of the crises and would stay until the crises were over.
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