(SINL NIGERIA) Troops of the Maritime Component of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have arrested suspected herders for allegedly encroaching on and destroying cultivated farmlands in Makurdi, Benue State.
The operation followed a distress call from farmers at the Lower Benue Basin in Ejaha London, Makurdi, who alleged that suspected Fulani herders had driven cattle into their farms, destroying crops worth thousands of naira.
According to the military, the incident occurred on July 18, when troops operating from the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) Jetty swiftly mobilised to the affected area after receiving the alert.
On arrival, the soldiers reportedly found cattle grazing on cultivated farmlands, with rice, maize, okra and tomato crops already damaged.
The military said the herders attempted to flee after sighting the troops but were apprehended, while the cattle were secured.
The suspects have been handed over to the 401 Provost Group for further investigation and possible prosecution over alleged farm encroachment and unlawful grazing.
Commenting on the development, the Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, warned against acts capable of triggering communal unrest and violent conflicts.
He reiterated the task force’s commitment to maintaining law and order, stressing that Operation WHIRL STROKE has zero tolerance for criminality and all forms of illegal activities.
The Force Commander also urged residents to support ongoing security operations by promptly reporting suspicious movements and unlawful activities to security agencies for immediate response.
