Troops foil herdsmen attack on Benue communities

The Troops of Nigerian School Of Military Engineering (NASME) yesterday night repelled an attack on Communities surrounding the barracks.

According to the Chairman Makurdi Local Government Area, Hon. Anthony Idyegeh, gunmen alleged to be Fulani Herdsmen militias had invaded the Tse Gever Daudu and Zongo axis which are mostly round the NASME Barracks.

Dyegeh said when he got a distress call of the attack, he quickly reached out to the barracks for help and they responded swiftly saving over 300 persons.

According to a high ranking military officer at the Barracks who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, said they responded after reports of the attacks reached them.

“When we heard of the attacks, we swiftly mobilised their men and getting to the scene of the attacks, the armed herdsmen militia opened fire on them and they also responded quickly leading to a gun duel between the army and the Militias.
Our colleagues from the 72 SF battalion later joined us so they quickly repel the attack,” the military source was quoted as saying by local news medium, Citizen TV.

He said, while their men were engaging the attackers, they also evacuated over 300 people from the neighboring villages and they are taking refuge in a safer place inside the Barracks.

Hon. Dyegeh while sympathising with the victims described the attack as barbaric and inhumane.

He commended the gallant and combine efforts of officers of NASME and 72 Barracks which led to the rescue of so many people ,saying, the attacks would have been bloody if not for the timely intervention of the Army.