Nigerian soldiers engage in intense gun-battle with armed militia along Benue-Nasarawa states border; kill one

macfranc007 February 01, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Jerrywright Ukwu

- Nigeria troops has continued its clearance operations along Benue and Nasarawa states border

- The operation is jointly carried out by troops of 72 Special Forces Battalion and 177 Guards Battalion

- A major arson going on in the area was quelled and a member of an unidentified militia was gunned down

Troops of 72 Special Forces Battalion and 177 Guards Battalion on Wednesday, January 31, while on joint clearance operation along Benue and Nassarawa states border, were alerted on the presence of unidentified armed militia.

It was confirmed that the criminals were setting houses on fire in Igacha village, about 4 kilometres away from Kadarko town.

Troops encounter armed militia along Benue-Nasarawa states border; kill one

The damage left by the armed militia along Benue-Nasarawa states border. Photo credit: Nigerian Army

According to a statement sent to NAIJ.com by the director, army public relations, Brigadier-General Sani Kukasheka Usman, the troops responded immediately by mobilizing to the area to stop the arson and apprehending the perpetrators.

The militia on sighting troops, were said to have abandoned their mission, scampering for safety in different directions. However, the troops neutralized one of the assailants, while others escaped with gun shot wounds.

NAIJ.com gathered that a cordon and search operation is still in progress in the general area with the view of tracking the fleeing armed criminals.

Consequently, inhabitants of the area were tasked by the Nigerian army to be on the look out for such wounded persons and report to the security agencies.

Recently, troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Monday, January 29, raided the shrine and suspected hideout of a notorious native doctor, Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem), who acts as spiritual adviser to the wanted armed criminal militia at Tor-Dunga town, Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue state.

The troops succeeded in arresting Tiv Swem, an ally of the wanted notorious criminal, Akwazar Terwase (alias Gana), a militia leader declared wanted by the security agencies and has been at large since 2016.

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