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Published 10 May 2021
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday allayed the fears of Makurdi residents and environs over the aerial surveillance being carried out by the military in parts of the state capital.
Residents of Makurdi woke up on Sunday to the sound of military aircraft hovering over the capital city and its environs, which heightened tension.
Ortom, who spoke at Petros Assembly International during a thanksgiving service and child dedication by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Pastor Ojotu Ojema, confirmed the air raid in the state capital, but said the surveillance was targeted at flushing out criminal elements and bandits from their hideouts.
George Okoh in Makurdi
The Nigerian military has commenced a seven-day operation with the codename: Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) to clear Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States of bandits’ activities
This was disclosed yesterday by a military source in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The source said the operation was sequel to the incessant bandits’ operations in some communities across the states, which had resulted in the death of so many people.
He disclosed that the clearance operation covers some islands behind NASME barracks in Makurdi and Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where it is believed that the bandits, who normally come from Nasarawa State, have their hideouts where they launch attacks on innocent people.
Troops storm Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba forests, to flush out killer herders, bandits
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By Peter Duru
A joint military operation covering Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, codenamed ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’, OPWS, has commenced a 7-day operation in the three states to clear bandits and killer herders in forests and communities located in the states.
This came as bandits, Saturday, killed 11 persons at Tsatstkiya in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, even as gunmen killed a community leader, his wife and sister-in-law in Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, same day.
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Troops commence 7-day special operation to clear forests, communities in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba
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By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The joint military operation covering Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, codenamed Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, has commenced a 7-day operation in the three states to clear bandits and armed herders in forests and communities located in the states.
Though no formal statement has been issued to that effect by the Commander of the OPWS, Brig. Gen. Clement Apere, a military source told reporters yesterday in Makurdi that the operation became necessary to check the incessant attacks on communities in Benue state particularly by armed herdsmen.
Ortom allays fear as military begin air surveillance in Benue Ortom allays fear as military begin air surveillance in Benue
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As military aircraft on air surveillance around Makurdi, Benue State capital and neighbouring communities heightened tension on Sunday, the State Governor, Samuel Ortom has allayed their fears.
Governor Ortom said that the aerial surveillance was been carried out by the military in parts of the state capital to flush out criminals and bandits.
Ortom spoke at Petros Assembly International during a Thanksgiving service and child dedication by the state commissioner for youth and sports, Pastor Ojotu Ojema, confirmed the air raid in the state capital but said that the surveillance was targeted at flushing out criminal elements and bandits from their hideouts.