From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has appealed to the government and people of Benue State to support the military with credible and timely information to end the attack on innocent citizens of the state by suspected herders and other militia groups.
Oluyede made the appeal when he met with the state governor in Makurdi, yesterday.
The COAS relocated to the state yesterday, following the incessant attacks and killings that have been ongoing in the state for sometime now.
Gen. Oluyede, while assuring the governor of the determination of the Nigerian Army to end the senseless killings and destruction of property in the shortest possible time, however, told the governor that the military would not do it alone as it would need the cooperation of the locals to carry out its operations.
While describing the killings as senseless, Oluyede said the time has come for people of the state to work as one and support the army with credible information to end the barbaric acts as soldiers would not be everywhere.
He assured the governor of the continuous support of the army to protect the territorial integrity of the Nigerian nation and protect the citizens of the state to enable the to go about their lawful businesses.
Welcoming the COAS, to the government house, Alia thanked the army for taking the killings very personal by visiting the state and assured Oluyede of his support to the military in the fight against banditry and other violent killings and in the state.
He equally commended the army operations in the state, which he said have done a lot to reduce the attacks on villages and communities.
Also, the Tor Tiv, who was highly elated by the visit of the COAS, said Oluyede’s visit would no doubt change the narratives of the operations and end the killings in no distance time.
Earlier, Oluyede, who arrived the state alongside his Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and other top army commanders, visited the headquarters of operation WHIRL STOKE, in Makurdi, where he was briefed by the commander of the operation, Brigadier- General Moses Gara, on updates of the operations.
