Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Major General Sunday Igbinowanhia, has said that three security personnel lost their lives during an attack on some communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday.
He said that the troops engaged the invading armed herders in gun duel for three hours before they were finally repelled.
The Force Commander said that the three deceased comprise of two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel,
The commander said that two other soldiers were wounded and receiving treatment at the Nigerian Air Force hospital in Makurdi.
According to the statement issued and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Saturday, the Force Commander said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke deployed at Akwu in Agatu LGA of the State were alarmed with the presence of people fleeing from Okokolo community in the same LGA.
General Igbinowanhia stated that the troops engaged the armed herders in gun duel that lasted for three hours and successfully repelled the armed herders who might have lost many people in there fold.
According to him, “On inquiry, the troops were informed that terrorists suspected to be armed herdsmen were advancing towards the town to attack it. The troops immediately mobilised and proceeded to the community which is about 15 km from their base.
“On arrival, the troops encountered the bandits carrying out attack on the the community and subsequently engaged the criminals in a gun duel that lasted for three hours.
“The attack was successfully repelled with the terrorists withdrawing in disarray while evacuating their dead and wounded.
“The success achieved was however at a huge cost with three of the troops paying the supreme sacrifice to prevent the killing of the inhabitants of Okokolo and the intended sacking of the community.
“In addition to the death of the two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel, two other soldiers were wounded and immediately evacuated to the Nigerian Air Force hospital in Makurdi.
The Force Commander commended the troops and encouraged them to put the set back of the loss of their colleagues behind and remain focus on the mission of ridding the Joint Operations Area of the Force of all criminality.
He used the opportunity to intimate the troops of the support of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the conduct of their operations. The troops were also informed of the speedy recovery of the wounded soldiers taken to the hospital as a result of the incidence.
The Force Commander assured the governor of the commitment of the troops to continue to carry out the mandate and mission of the Force as aptly directed by the CDS for the security of life and properties in the Force Joint Operations Area.
He noted that further operations are already on to track the assailants to their hideout.
Saturday Tribune had reported the invasion of armed herders on Agatu Communities in Benue State on Thursday and killed four people, including two soldiers.
Our correspondent learnt that the armed herders who were more than one hundred had spread themselves in three sections in the forest before troops of OPWS who were on patrol of the areas were ambushed.
