Army General explains why soldiers raided Agatu communities
- After the raids that allegedly cost the lives of 6 Agatu residents, Nigerian Army has explained why soldiers attacked six communities in Benue
- Brig. Gen. Clement Apeere said the raid was necessary to flush out hoodlums from the affected communities
- The raid was conducted after a soldier was reportedly killed by some Agatu villagers
Following a raid by Nigerian soldiers on six Agatu communities, the Nigeria army has come out to defend the attack that reportedly cost the lives of five people.
Brigade commander 707 special forces, Brig. Gen. Clement Apeere, who spoke at a press conference in Markurdi, explained that the raid was necessary to flush out criminals that reportedly stay among the Agatu.
READ ALSO: What happened on the day I was arrested - Biafran leader Onwuka
According to Tribune, Apeere said that troops of 72 special force battalion were deployed to the area to recover arms and ammunition and the body of a slain soldier that was attacked by some Agatu youths.
He said: “On receiving the information, the troops of special forces battalion moved to Oweto to recover the body of the killed soldier, the troops conducted Condon and search operations to apprehend youth militias that committed the act and recover the soldier’s rifle and ammunition they carried away.”
“The operation we conducted in the area was carried out in a professional way, adding, that his men were able to achieve their mission during the operation.
“We got intelligence where the hoodlums were, we swooped on the areas but before we got there some of them have escaped but could not escape with the arms and ammunition.”
Apeere said sophisticated weapons such as AK 47 rifles, two SLR rifles, two G3 rifles, fabricated pistol, two short barrel local revolver guns and 14 dane guns as well as police and military kits were found in the ransacked communities.
When questioned about the loss of lives during the operation, Apeere insisted that the operation was to secure lives and not to take lives. He did not however directly dispute that lives were lost during the raid.
PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest News on Legit.ng News App
He said: “Our aim is to protect law abiding citizen. When military conduct operation like that there are lot of stories, those who are peddling that rumor are the enemies of that area.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai has announced Nigeria Army would recruit 12,000 men this year to boost its operations across the country.
Buratai, who was speaking during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Army, said the recruitment exercise would take place after the approval of the army’s 2017 budget proposal of N152.8 billion.
He said the recruitment exercise would be in two batches with 6,000 men first and another 6,000 later, Daily Trust reports.
Source: Legit.ng
