The military on Saturday denied any fresh killings in Benue state by suspected herdsmen.
The Force Commander of OPWS, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, in a statement made available to Daily Trust in Makurdi, noted that his attention was drawn to a media report, alleging that 15 people have been killed in different parts of the state.
“HQ OPWS wishes to state that the force did not receive any report of a single killing or even injury inflicted by armed herdsmen on anybody in any part of Benue State in the past several months.
“OPWS has troops in all the areas mentioned including Makurdi and there is no way up to 15 people would be killed without our troops being aware of it.
“Such a large number of killings would have triggered exodus of people in the affected communities which journalists would have captured almost as they happen,” he stated.
Yekini added that there were also other security agencies on ground including traditional military units, Police, Civil Defence and DSS personnel who would have filed reports of the killings through their respective channels while also exchanging such information with OPWS.
The force commander therefore urged residents of Benue to disregard the news and go about their normal business activities without fear.
He assured that OPWS remains resolutely committed to restoring lasting peace to the state.
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