There have been rising cases of torments
by hoodlums in Taraba and Benue States. Rigid efforts put forth by both Federal
and State Governments to run these terrible activities down seem to be yielding positive results, as
the Nigeria Army, yesterday, flagged off its operation in the state.
The operation, tagged, ‘Ayem Akpatuma’ (Cat Race), was
designed to wash out out hoodlums and other undesirable elements from the
state’s southern geo-political zone, which has in recent time been prone to
vices ranging from Tiv/Jukun crisis and kidnappings to armed banditry.
Flagging off the exercise at Kufai Amadu
village in Takum local government council, the State Governor,
Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, represented by his deputy, Engineer
Haruna Manu, expressed optimism that the exercise would go a long way in
checkmating hoodlums’ nefarious activities.
Similarly, while launching ‘Operation Ayem
Akpatuma II’ in Benue State, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General
Tukur Buratai charged the military personnel to be professional in their
conduct and adhere strictly to the rules of engagement. Buratai, represented by
the Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Army, Major General Joel Unuigbe, tasked the
personnel to stem the tide of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal
occurrences in the state.
Buratai said the army would not condone
acts of human rights abuse by the troops involved in the exercise, which would
be conducted within One Division, Three Division and the 707 Special Forces Brigade
areas of responsibility. He said: “The exercise was earlier conducted to stem
rising insecurity in the North Central and part of Northwest Nigeria. The
attendant successes recorded necessitated the commencement of Exercise “Ayem Akpatuma II”
