By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Members of the Benue State security outfits Thursday stormed the deadly Makurdi-Naka road over the spate of kidnappings and killings on that axis of the state.

He security team was made up of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, BSCVG, Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services, NHFSS, the Benue State Livestock Guards, BSLG, and Nigeria Vigilante Group

The road which stretches to Otukpo has overtime been taken over by armed bandits who at will stage attacks on communities on the stretch and also kidnap and kill unsuspecting commuters who ply the road.

The security outfits who were led in a motorcade and hundreds of motorbikes by the Special Adviser on Internal Security to the Governor, Chief Joseph Har were said to have moved into the area to sensitise the communities and also commence the gradual combing of the forests on that axis of the state.

Speaking on the mission, the Special Adviser said Governor Hyacinth Alia approved the exercise as part of efforts to complement conventional security agencies to check activities of the bandits operating on that axis of the state.

Chief Har assured that the local security outfit “are ready to move into the forest to flush out any criminal elements including invading the camps of the bandits to stop the killings of Benue people.”

Receiving the team in his palace at Naka, the Gwer Local Government Council headquarters, the Ter Tyoshin, HRH Daniel Abomtse, whose domain and subjects were worse hit by the banditry in the area commended the initiative stressing that it had rekindled the hope of the people.

The Royal father noted that the plan to deploy the operative to the roads and the forest had further demonstrate the care and commitment of the government to the plight of his people and promised to give his full support and cooperation to the operation.

Chief Abomtse who lamented the displacement of thousands of his subjects since February 8, 2011 by armed herdsmen and bandits commended all initives by the government to end the activities of the marauders in the state in general.

While suggesting a sweeping action to halt the activities of marauders in he state Chief Abomtse said “three days military onslaught in the forest either by land or air to make sure all the territories called enclaves are completely shelled, if that is done, the Police and troops like the volunteer guards, hunters will take over at the back.”

The State Commander of NHFSS, Peter Ajonye and Operations Coordinator of Nigeria Vigilante Group, John Akile thanked the Royal father for declaring support for the exercise advising bandits in the area to leave for their own good.