Daniel Abomtse, chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West LGA, Benue State, has raised the alarm over a surge of armed herders into communities in his area following recent US air strikes. Speaking to a correspondent on Saturday, Abomtse said the groups have been moving from Sokoto into coastal areas of Gwer West and neighboring Agatu LGA, “with sophisticated arms and grazing openly.”
“I felt their movement in my local government as well as in Agatu LGA. They have been running away from Sokoto to coastal areas in Gwer West and Agatu with sophisticated arms and grazing openly. They are in my domain,” he said.
While welcoming the US action, Abomtse urged that the operations be expanded to other states affected by similar violence. “What President Trump has done is the best thing to have happened to the government of Nigeria. I commend him for dealing with the menace in the country, which began about 16 years ago,” he added, calling for efforts to be extended to Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Niger and Plateau states.
