Troops of Operation 777, an offshoot of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, say they have returned 37, 000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to their ancestral homes in Benue state.
The Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim disclosed this Thursday, while briefing newsmen at OPWS Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, TAC, Headquarters, Makurdi.
Agim also said 17 armed militia men have been killed and 11 others arrested within the period.
Brig. Gen. Agim said the IDPs returned after remnant of militias men were destroyed following 49 offensive operations carried out in six weeks.
He recalled that the operation 777 was inaugurated on October 8, to clear the camps of armed militia men within the Joint Operation Areas, JOAs, of the OPWS including Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
Flanked by Force Commander of the OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, Agim further stated that the troops were ready to provide security cover for the returning IDPs and to dominate the area with patrols to reassure them of their safety.
According to him, “the Operation 777 was launched to re-energize the existing operations of the military all over the country to close gaps so that criminal elements will not escape from theatre of operation to other places.”
He revealed that 10 of the offensive operations were conducted in Benue against the wanted militia leader, Terwase Akwaza a.k.a Gana and militia men aligned to him in parts of Ukum, Katsina-Ala and Vadiekya Local Government areas between October and November 2018.
Agim said as a result of these offensive operations, Gana’s armed group had been subdued to a large extent, a development which has returned remarkable peace and security along the Sankera axis.
He said in the past six months, the OPWS had recovered a total of 57 weapons including 27 AK47 magazines and 1,311 rounds of ammunition while over 157,000 have returned to their ancestral homes.
He also said that a total of 83 suspects were arrested out of which some have been jailed while others are still undergoing investigation for prosecution.
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Also speaking, Maj.-Gen. Yekini assured that the entire joint operation area was now secured as troops had cleared all communities of criminal elements.
He urged those who are still in IDP camps to return to their ancestral homes.
Major General Yekini also cautioned members of the public against peddling rumours that will further create fear in the IDPs who are desirous of returning to their ancestral homes.
