Troops kill ‘three armed herders’ in Benue

The Nigerian Army says troops of its operation whirl stroke (OPWS) have killed three suspected armed herdsmen in Apa LGA of Benue.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Sunday Igbinomwanhia, the commander of the OPWS, said the armed herders killed a soldier and injured another during an attack.

He said the injured soldier is receiving treatment at a hospital in Makurdi, the state capital.

Igbinomwanhia said troops are currently carrying out a clearance operation to flush out suspected armed foreign herders who had invaded Kwande LGA of the state.

He alleged that those terrorising some villages in Kwande LGA were suspected to be armed herdsmen coming into the country through the international border line between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Last year, Mike Inelagwu, former Benue commissioner for information, said over 5,000 people were killed in the state by militias and terrorists in seven years. 

Inelagwu added that many residents of the state have been displaced and are now scattered in various internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps across the country.

He said assailants come in from neighbouring states like Nassarawa to terrorise the residents of Benue.