10 military arrests, seizure of 16 firearms (photo)

Following a municipal clash between the Ibilla and Ukpa communities in the Oju local government of Benue State, a joint military operation, code-named Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, arrested 10 suspects and seized 16 weapons. fire and live ammunition.

Two neighboring communities have turned against each other after disagreements over the demarcation drawn by the National Population Commission (NCP) in the communities.

It was reported that a few days ago, angry youths from fraternal communities began sporadic gunfire and arson attacks on community property when NPC officials arrived in the area to perform the exercises.

According to a source in the area, “misinformed young people were convinced that the exercise could be opaque. After what appeared to be a minor altercation, in the blink of an eye gunfire filled the air from all directions, forcing the NPC officers to flee.

“As a result of the development, houses and property in the two communities were burned, prompting the intervention of the OPWS troops and the 72nd Battalion, which saved the Oju LGA from total destruction and bloodshed.

“The soldiers spent two days of pardoning and searching the communities, and on the first day they arrested nine people, seized nine firearms, 59 ammunition, eight sabers, two axes, nine mobile phones and a Volkswagen car.

“On Sunday night, troops again raided the communities, in which they seized seven more firearms and arrested another suspect.

“Young militants thought the soldiers had left the distressed communities, they went out to continue the arson attacks when nine of them were surrounded and other weapons were discovered by the troops,” he said.

OPWS Force Commander Major General Adeyemi Yekini, who declined to comment on the operation, dispatched reporters to the information department of the defense headquarters.

A security source told Vanguard that the arrested youths were taken to Makurdi for further questioning.