By Baron Ike
The federal government on Wednesday heeded the calls of many Nigerians to deploy soldiers to the troubled Benue State where herdsmen have killed the indigenes in their hundreds and injured others.
The deployment was sequel to the decision government took during the maiden Federal Executive Council meeting of the year which took place on Wednesday and presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed communicated the decision of the government to newsmen at a briefing after the FEC meeting.
Mohammed said the military operation will cover Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa.
The army leadership immediately constituted three operational forces to deal with the situation.
It was on a day the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and his kinsmen met with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who was directed by Buhari to relocate to the place in the face of the dastard killings.
Ortom told the police boss where he thinks the herdsmen were quartered in Nasarawa State and suggested that the police should be painstaking in their investigation of his information.
Idris in his remarks apologised to the Benue people for what they have been through and for erronously describing the attack ascommunal.
Governor Tamko Al- Makura had earlier denied that the herdsmen were hybernating in his territory but speaking at a meeting on Wednesday with his state’s security council, Al- Makura urged the people to ensure that fleeing Benue indigenes are well protected.
He recalled that they have been good neighbours over the years.
Also on Wednesday Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State urged the federal government to declare the herdsmen as trrrorists and treat them as such.
He urged Benue indigenes to protect their territory from intruders and visitors who areout to kill them.