Insecurity: Benue governor issues ultimatum, vows to defeat militia in State

Governor Samuel Ortom has asked militia terrorising the Agatu area of Benue State to surrender themselves to law enforcement agencies within 72 hours or chose to face the wrath of the State.

He gave this declaration while receiving arms and ammunition recovered by the army in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State in Makurdi.

The governor was saddened that a soldier was killed in an encounter with bandits, saying it’s unacceptable.

He said that he was fully ready to assist in identifying and fishing out youths in possession of illegal arms and ammunition, while sympathising with the Chief of Army Staff over the murder of a soldier.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Retired Colonel Edwin Jando presented the recovered weapons to the Governor, describing the feat as a result of the resilience of the military personnel deployed to the area.

The Commander, 707 Special Brigade Forces, Makurdi, Brigadier General Clement Apere has stated that no house was destroyed nor lives lost during the military search operation in Oweto, Agatu local government area.

The recovered weapons included two AK47 rifles, two SLR rifles, one fabricated pistol, three locally made pistols, live amunition, police and military kits, some charms and substance suspected to be Indian hemp.