It was alleged that the military invasion followed the recent killing of 11 soldiers who were deployed to the area on a peacekeeping operation following renewed hostilities between Bonta village of Mbator in Shangev-Tiev of Konshisha LGA and Okpute-Ainu in Oju LGA of the state.
However, the Nigerian Army on Friday, described as “laughable’’, the claim by the residents that at least 70 innocent persons were killed during an invasion by soldiers.
Daily Trust reports that the latest alleged massacre by the Nigerian Army was coming 20 years after a similar incident at Zaki Biam in the state when over 100 civilians were killed and their houses destroyed.
The villagers appealed to the Federal Government to order the military to halt the killings, saying they are planning to storm more villages.
Daily Trust had reported how the military invaded the communities after 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush.
Contacted to comment on the villagers’ allegation, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), referred our correspondent to the Media unit of the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
But a soldier, who pleaded anonymity, dismissed the claim of the villagers, challenging them to substantiate the claim.
He told our correspondent that the soldiers killed belonged to the 72 battalion, Special Forces of the Nigerian Army.
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Benue State government on Saturday received over 78 impounded motorcycles impounded by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke.
It would be recalled that the State Security Council had placed a ban on the use of motorcycles in Ukum and Katsina-Alla local government areas of Sankera axis following an increasing spate of violence in the areas in recent times.
Though, the State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that the State Security Council would soon meet to review the ban.
The impounded motorcycles were handed over by the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini.
The Security Adviser, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba retd who received the motorcycles on behalf of the governor, Samuel Ortom said that the motorcycles were impounded by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke for flouting the directives.