The Nigeria Army has established a new outpost in Wandor, Mbaikyor, Mbalom in Gwer local government area of Benue state, where 15 persons were recently killed by suspected herdsmen.
The establishment of the outpost followed the merging of 401 Special Forces Brigade with Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), that forms Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke for effective and more productive security operations in Benue state.
The new outpost and deployment of soldiers in the area is expected to prevent the possibility of retaliatory attacks and restore confidence in the devastated community.
Blueprint gathered from the crisis community that the Commander 4 Special Forces Command, Major General Hilary Nzan, accompanied by the Commander 401 Special Forces Brigade who doubles as the Commander Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWs) Benue state, had made an operational visit to the crisis area on 11th of March, 2024.
The commanders reportedly engaged the traditional rulers, elders and youth of the community in an interactive session with the main aim of having firsthand information and ascertain the remote causes of the attack that led to the killing of 15 persons on the 7th Day of March, 2024 with a view to protect the community from further attacks.
A community said during the interaction with the community, it was revealed that on the 28th February, 2024, some Fulani herdsmen entered the community with their cows to graze and allowed their animals to consume and destroy stored farm produce, which included harvested yams and cassava.
The act prompted the villagers to arrest and handover three herders to the police at the Aliade Police Divisional Headquarters.
However, the herders following their member’s arrest mobilised and returned with their cows in numbers and the villagers pursued them and while fleeing, they left some of their cows behind.
He further revealed that the herders later returned at night in the name of retrieving their cows and ended up killing people.
