The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Maj. Gen. Kevin Aligbe has assured that the Nigerian Armed Forces’ intervention and partnership with civil authorities will end the border conflicts between communities in Benue and Ebonyi States.
Aligbe stated this yesterday while inspecting the extent of damage around the border communities of Odoke, Ugboghelle, Anmeka, Apa-Ogbozu, and others affected by the Effium/Ezza border crisis.
The Force Commander said by the instrumentality of his principal, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Military was leading the war against all forms of criminality and keeping to its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property of Nigerians.
Barely a week ago, the hostilities between Effium/Ezza communities at the Benue/Ebonyi States border took a more violent turn leading to the loss of several lives and destruction of properties worth hundreds of millions.
This prompted the Senator representing Benue South District, Comrade Abba Moro, to move a motion during plenary at the Senate, calling for the Federal Government’s intervention.
DAILY POST gathered that in his determination to end the crisis, the Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. James Oche, wrote to the Force Commander of Operation Whirstroke through the Benue State Government, appealing for the deployment of military troops at the border.
An appeal that is said to have been fulfilled by the visit of the Force Commander.
The presence of Aligbe was greeted with excitement by the Ado Local Government authorities, led by Oche, who appreciated the Force Commander for finding time to personally see for himself the situation of things.
He said the visit was “spirit-lifting” and appealed for establishing an Army Battalion at the border, as one of the permanent solutions to be considered.
The Chairman lamented the rising number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and called on the government, corporate bodies and good spirited individuals for support.
