The Federal Government, on Thursday, disclosed the various measures it has been taking to stop the senseless killings and curtail the criminality that has fuelled the clashes as well as cattle rustling and other acts of insecurity, especially in the worst-hit areas.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who made the disclosure during a Town Hall meeting on Thursday in Abuja, enumerated these measures as followed:
– The Nigerian Army has recently flagged-off two Battalion Forward Operation Base, FOB, in Birnin- Gwari, with an operation tagged “Idon Raini”.
– The Nigerian Air Force has deployed its Special Forces to the newly-established 23 Quick Response Wing (QRW) in Nguroje, Taraba State.
– The NAF also has a 1000-man Special Intervention Force deployed to Makurdi to degrade bandits and criminals in Benue and Nasarawa States.
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– The NAF has unveiled a new base in Kerang, Plateau State, with the aim of reducing its response time to emergencies. The ANAF has also deployed drones to flashpoints.
– The Directorate of Military Intelligence, DMI, has established a Fusion Centre, an intelligence analysis hub, for the purpose of gathering and sharing intelligence among the security agencies in the country. The centre is to tackle the desperate actions of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, who use underage children, particularly girls, as suicide bombers.
– President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
– A Quick Response Wing has also been established by the Nigerian Air Force in Taraba State, while a Joint Military Intervention Force is fully on ground in Benue State.
– The 8-Task Force Division in Monguno was established to further strengthen military presence in the North East.
– The Federal Government has deployed 3,000 personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Special Forces, known as ‘Agro-rangers’, to protect farms and agricultural investment in the country.
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– The Police has deployed additional Five Units of Police Mobile Force, Police Special Forces, Police Aerial Surveillance Helicopters and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Team to Benue State.
– The Police has also deployed a surveillance helicopter to Taraba, and additional mobile police units to ensure the total restoration of peace to the state and the region.
– President Buhari has visited the affected flashpoints for an on-the-spot assessment and interaction with key stakeholders, while the Vice President has just paid a
working visit to Benue.
– The Federal Government has also approved N10 billion for the rehabilitation of communities affected by violent attacks.
– Also, significant arrests have been made in connection with the farmers-herdsmen clashes. They include Aliyu Tashaku, who was accused of masterminding some of the deadly attacks recorded across Benue state from January 1.
– The Nigerian Army has also arrested five men at Tse-Dum, in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, with two AK-47 rifles and live ammunition;
– The Police have smashed two gun running and arms dealing ring in Benue and Taraba; while the Nigerian Army has paraded three militia herdsmen in Benue, from whom two AK 47 rifles, live ammunition, cutlass and assorted charms were recovered.
– The Nigerian Army has arrested 18 herdsmen in the Kwata Sule, Mbayer, Yandev and Kaambee areas of Benue for destructive activities.
– In the last two weeks, the IGP Intelligence Response Team and the Police Special Forces, whose work cut across Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba State Commands, have arrested 11 suspects and recovered Ten AK 47 Rifles and other assorted firearms and ammunition from them.
