Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has relocated to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following the ongoing wave of violent attacks and killings in rural communities by suspected herders and armed militia groups.
The move comes amid growing concern over the escalating
violence, which has left dozens of villagers dead, many injured, and countless
homes destroyed, rendering several families homeless. Reports of near-daily
attacks have sparked outrage and fear across the state.
Military sources confirmed that General Oluyede departed
Abuja on Tuesday morning alongside his Principal Staff Officers and other
senior army officials to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the security
situation in the state.
As part of his visit, the army chief has ordered the
deployment of additional troops to Benue to confront the armed groups
responsible for the killings. He is expected to hold strategic meetings with
operational and unit commanders to review ongoing military operations and
devise new strategies to contain the violence.
General Oluyede is also scheduled to visit affected
communities to assess the damage, reassure residents of their safety, and
reaffirm the army’s commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens. During his
stay, he will visit troop locations, interact with personnel, and personally
lead operations in the field to boost morale and coordinate the military
response.
Sources told Vanguard that the COAS is deeply disturbed by
the reports of mass killings and may initiate key changes in the command
structure, including the redeployment of some commanders to reinforce
operational effectiveness.
Recent attacks have been described by observers as part of a
campaign of ethnic cleansing. Last weekend, gunmen killed at least 43 people in
coordinated assaults on several communities in Gwer West and Apa Local
Government Areas. The violence occurred just a week after herdsmen militia
ambushed and shot a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo, along the
Makurdi-Naka road, and attacked four villages in Gwer West, including the home
village of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe. That attack claimed 42 lives, including that
of a mobile police officer.
The army chief is expected to remain in Benue for several
days before returning to Abuja.
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