Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said there is no hiding place for ”rats” with the launch of “Operation Cat Race” in the state by the Nigerian army.
The army on Tuesday began the exercise aimed at ending the incessant farmers-herders conflicts and other criminal activities in the North-central region of the country.
More than 100 people are believed to have lost their lives since the first day of 2018.
Governor Ortom said the military should inspire the confidence of the over 160,000 internally displaced persons living in eight camps to return to their ancestral homes.
”For us in Benue State, this exercise is unique because it is the first time that the menace of farmers and herdsmen crises is being confronted with the required attention and force that it truly deserves. I wish to commend Mr. President who is the Commander-in-Chief for this bold step,” the governor said at the launch.
”After we lost over 73 innocent lives on 1st January, 2018 to herdsmen attacks, more lives were also lost in subsequent attacks after the burial.
”In Zamfara State, more than 40 people were also killed by Fulani herdsmen. This is besides the pockets of killings that have been going on in Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna and many other States across Nigeria.
”To say the least, we cannot afford to go on like this as a Nation. It is for this reason that we welcome “Ayem Akpatuma” and call on all participants in the exercise to see it as crucial in the restoration of the confidence of victims in the country.”
