At least 1 officer and 10 soldiers have been gunned down in what the Nigerian army describes as “unprovoked attack” by suspected militiamen. The attack took place in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
A statement by the spokesperson, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima says the troops came under attack while on routine operational task. The troops comprising 1 officer and 10 soldiers were initially declared missing which prompted the deployment of a joint search and rescue team comprising Nigerian Army troops and personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke.
The search and rescue team, unfortunately, found all the missing 11 personnel dead in the Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State. While the bodies of the slain troops were evacuated immediately, efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators of the heinous crime with a view to bringing them to justice.
The Army says it remains resolute in ensuring stability in Benue State as well as other parts of the country that are affected by the activities of criminal gangs. While appealing to the public to volunteer useful information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
Reports from Konshisha LGA show that troops in search of the missing 11 personnel burnt down several communities leading to the death of scores of people with thousands displaced throughout the affected areas.
