Herdsmen attacks: FG reorganises army command, control structure in Benue, others — Osinbajo

ABUJA— The Federal Government has reorganised the command and control structure of army formations in areas around Benue State as part of the administration’s response to herdsmen attacks in the region, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed, yesterday.
In a special statement explaining the government’s response to the spate of conflict instigated by herdsmen attacks, the vice-president further disclosed that the army will next week launch a special exercise to checkmate the activities of the herdsmen, bandits and militias in areas around Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa states.
Herdsmen
In the statement issued on his behalf by Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) said the approach of the government has been to deploy the security forces in the troubled areas.
He said: “The approach of the government has been to deploy mobile police forces to troubled areas and also both the army and Air Force, the Nigerian Army formations and units in Benue State for example, especially 72 Special Forces Battalion, have consistently maintained Forward Operating Bases at the flash areas covering Guma, Logo, Katsina-Ala and Agatu Local Government Areas.”
“The operation has the generic name Operation MESA, but it is nicknamed Operation ZENDA in Benue State. The Army had within the last few days scaled up the size of troops and equipment in Agatu, Guma, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.
“The Army also recently deployed troops at Awe and Tunga Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, in order to monitor and block the gaps that were presumed to be used as staging points by armed herdsmen to attack communities in Benue State.
“Additionally, troops of 93 Battalion, Takum in Taraba State, also occupy blocking positions as well as maintain constant liaison with troops in Benue State.
“Furthermore, the command and control structure of the Army formations and units in Benue and contiguous states have been reorganized.
“Accordingly, more troops were deployed and the Commander 707 Special Forces Brigade was reassigned to Taraba State for effective command and control of troops operating in the entire Benue/Taraba general area. And next week, the Nigerian Army will flag-off Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA, to checkmate the activities of armed bandits and militias in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and environs.”