By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Following the merging of 401 Special Forces Brigade with Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) that formed Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke for effective and more productive security operations in Benue State, a new outpost has been established in the crisis.
This arrangement followed the recent attack by armed herders on the community of Mbaikyaor, Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state, where 15 people were killed with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries to avert further retaliatory attacks.
Investigation by NATIONAL ACCORD on the crisis, revealed the commitment and resilience exhibited by the Special Security Operative Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Benue State by the prompt intervention as soon as they got wind of the incident and putting to a stop further escalation of the crisis by the establishment of an outpost in the area can never be overemphasized.
The investigation further proved that the security strategies displayed by the Sector 1 OPWS in the crisis area that had led to the restoration of normalcy in the affected community with fleeing members of the community returning to their respective homes is worthy of commendation from all and sundry.
NATIONAL ACCORD gathered that on March 11, 2024 , the Commander 401 Special Forces Command, Major General H. E. Nzan, accompanied by the Commander Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke Benue State visited Mbaikyaor, Mbalom, Gwer East LGA, where the commanders interacted with the traditional rulers, elders and youths of the area with the main aim of having the firsthand information and knowing the remote causes of the attack that have claimed lives with others sustaining serious injuries on March, 7, 2024.
During their interaction with the community members on ground, it was revealed that on the 28th February, 2024, some Fulani herders had entered the community with their cows practicing open grazing.
The act of practicing open grazing prompted the villagers to arrest and handed over three herders to the police at the Aliade Police Divisional Headquarters.
The villagers accused the herders of allowing their cows to consume and destroy their stored farm produce, which included harvested yams and cassava.
It was gathered that despite the herders arrests, it was alleged that the following day, the herders returned with their cows in their numbers In the ensuing chaos, as the villagers pursued the fleeing Fulanis, some of their cows as further alleged were left behind.
They further revealed that the herders later returned at night to retrieve their cows.
The community leader emphasized while narrating the story of the sad incident to the Commander that the attack on their Community on 7th day of March, 2024 was as a result of their resistance to open grazing by the Fulani.
After the assessment carried out by the 401 Special Forces Brigade, the Command decided to establish a new outpost at Mbaikyaor and troops were deployed in before the senior officers departed the community.
The deployment has prevented the possibility of retaliatory attacks and to restore confidence in the devastated community.
The villagers were also cautioned against taking laws into their own hands and were urged to report any suspicious activities of armed herders around their community.
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