Panic in Benue as bandits threaten to attack Katsina-Ala over death of colleagues

There is currently palpable tension among residents of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue state following threats by armed bandits to attack the community over killings of colleagues by the military.

IDOMA VOICE gathered that the military operation, which was carried out by the Katsina-Ala unit of the Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, also led to the burning down of the camp of the bandits at Tse-Keji.

Several weapons, cash and charms allegedly belonging to the fleeing bandits were recovered after the bloody military raid.

Apparently angered by the development, leader of the bandits, one Terna Gide was said to have called a member of the Community Volunteer Guards, CVGs, in the area vowing to stage a reprisal in the coming days thereby creating pandemonium in the town.

The development was confirmed to newsmen Wednesday in Makurdi my the Chairman of Katsina-Ala, LGA, Mr. Alfred Atera who said “following the attack on Tse Geju camp yesterday by the men of OPWS during which four of the bandits were eliminated, their leader Terna Gide is threatening to embark on reprisal.

“As of this morning, he called and issued lots of threats that he is going to do more than what was destroyed in his camp. He called the number of a member of the CVGs and issued the threat,” he said.

Meanwhile a military source who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the military operation and the elimination of the bandits.

He called on residents of Katsina-Ala and Benue at large to remain calm and disregard the threat.