Operation Ayem Akpatuma flags off in Taraba and Benue by the Army

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”