Benue Communal Crisis: 12 Killed, Arms Recovered As Military Raid Criminal Hideouts

The Nigerian Military has raided and destroyed some criminal hideouts in Benue State with 12 bandits killed and arms recovered in the process.

The criminals were reported to have attacked military troops around Bonta village and adjourning communities in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

The troops were on a peacekeeping mission between warring communities of Bonta in Konshisha Local Government Area and Ukpute-Ainu in Oju Local Government Area.

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The communities had been witnessing communal clash in past months over a land tussle, a development which made the government draft military troops to patrol the area.

The troops were however ambushed and attacked around Bonta Village by suspected ‘Bonta Boys’.

The Bonta Boys allegedly seized some of the soldiers, on the grounds that they (soldiers) destroyed their illegal roadblocks.

Sources disclosed that the military, following the attack stormed the village with helicopters and with the support of land troops destroyed all houses and hideouts suspected to be housing armed bandits in the area during which several arms were recovered.

At the time of filing this report, residents of Bonta Village and environs have deserted their villages and are currently taking refuge at Tse-Agbaragba, headquarters of Konshisha Local Government area.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene said she was not aware of any such raid by the military in Konshisha Local Government area.

Efforts to speak with Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Adeyemi Yekini failed as all his lines were switched off at the time of this report.

Meanwhile, the Benue state security council have on Thursday convened an emergency meeting believed to be connected to the attack.