Troops of 72 Special Forces (SF) Battalion Markurdi in Benue State, averted what could have been a bloody communal clash in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the State. The Troops averted the attempted communal clash between the Tiv clan-Shitile and the Ikyora in the early hours of Monday morning.
According to the statement released by Colonel Sagir Musa the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the troops deployed for internal security operation in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area exterminated five mercenaries, recover arms and ammunition in Benue State.
Colonel Sagir Musa stated further that this achievement was made possible due to the information received about the planned attack on Katsina–Ala town by Shitile armed bandits. Hence, the 72 SF Battalion troops laid an ambush along the suspected route where they intercepted the armed fighters/attackers.
Consequently, there was an exchange of fire between the armed fighters and the soldiers. Five armed militia met their Waterloo during the encounter. The following items were recovered:
1 x General Purpose Machine Gun,
b. 2 x AK 47 Rifles,
c. 198 x 7.62 mm rounds of NATO Ammunition,
d. 16 x 7.63 mm rounds of Special Ammunition,
e. 2 x Vehicles, f 7 x Motorcycles
The Nigerian Army hereby applaud those who provided the information that led to the success of this operation.
Nigerian Army also uses this opportunity to remind the public on the need to be brothers’ keepers and continue to provide useful and timely information to the nearest security agencies for decisive action.