COAS Oluyede Relocates to Benue Over Renewed Herdsmen Attacks, Directs Fresh Military Push
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has temporarily relocated his operational base to Makurdi, the state capital, PRNigeria learnt.
This, in a bold and strategic response to the unabating wave of deadly attacks in Benue State.
General Oluyede, who arrived in Benue on Tuesday morning alongside a retinue of Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and senior military aides, is expected to personally coordinate military operations aimed at restoring peace and stability in the troubled communities.
The decision to relocate follows a series of brutal attacks in the state, allegedly carried out by armed herders and militia groups. These attacks, which have left scores of civilians dead, many others injured, and entire villages razed, have prompted a nationwide outcry and heightened calls for immediate military intervention.
A credible military source informed Vanguard that the COAS will lead from the front by undertaking an on-the-spot assessment of affected areas, meeting with field commanders, and addressing frontline troops.
He is also expected to review existing operational frameworks and approve new tactical deployments to reinforce troops already on the ground.
“The Chief of Army Staff is deeply disturbed by the spate of killings and displacement of innocent citizens in Benue,” the source said.
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“He has directed the deployment of additional combat units and is personally overseeing the re-strategising of the ongoing operations to neutralize armed threats and restore normalcy.”
In the course of his visit, General Oluyede will inspect Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), engage in morale-boosting interactions with troops, and visit some of the recently attacked communities to reassure residents of the Army’s commitment to their safety.
PRNigeria gathered that the COAS may also order a shake-up in command structures in the theatre of operation, as part of efforts to inject renewed energy and tactical flexibility in confronting the evolving security threats.
The Army Chief’s presence in Benue underscores the seriousness with which the Nigerian Army views the deteriorating security situation in the region, particularly following the most recent carnage where over 40 persons were killed in separate attacks on Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas.
The renewed violence comes barely a week after gunmen shot Reverend Father Solomon Atongo along the Makurdi–Naka highway, and raided four villages in Gwer West LGA, including Tse-Agena, the hometown of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, leading to the death of 42 individuals, among them a Mobile Police Officer.
While no group has formally claimed responsibility, locals and security observers have linked the attacks to suspected herdsmen militia who reportedly operate with sophisticated firearms.
The Nigerian Army, under General Oluyede’s leadership, has pledged to decisively confront all criminal elements threatening the peace and territorial integrity of the country, and will not relent in its constitutional mandate to protect lives and property.
By PRNigeria
