Force Commander (FC), Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Kevin Aligbe, has restated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains at the forefront in tackling the myriad of security threats confronting the Country. 

Maj. Gen Aligbe made the disclosure at an interactive session with the Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Nasarawa State Chapter held yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State.

The FC said the one-day security parley was in continuation of the peace initiative through consultation and engagements between the stakeholders and the Military towards proffering lasting solutions to the security challenges in the States. 

"The Military as an institution remains at the forefront of leading the war against every form of criminalities as the constitution avails it with the mandate of protecting lives and property of every Nigerian", he stated. 

Maj. Gen. Aligbe, while admitting a surge in the wave of insecurity in the North Central (NC), occasioned by farmers/herders and communal clashes, said the ongoing Military engagement is crucial, as such require the inputs of all parties involved towards sustainable peace and progress.

He thanked the MACBAN for being "Peace lovers and being open minded in proffering suggestions to the security threats." He promised that there would be interventions in the security dispositions. He also said he will elicit the same peace co-operation from the Benue State livestock Guard as this will help cement the proposed peace and stability within the two states.

The FC commended Field Commanders for their diligence and professionalism. Chairman, MACBAN, Nasarawa State Chapter, Alhaji Bala Mohammed Baou acknowledged the critical roles being played by the Military in the defence and security of the State. 

He expressed optimism that critical issues bothering on farmers and herders crisis, cattle rustling and communal clashes would be a thing of the past soonest from the interaction with the FC OPWS.

He said their major challenges include excessive charges from the Benue State Livestock Guard and border demarcation among the two states which is not properly mapped, according to him. He said it persistently cause the herders to graze from Nasarawa into Benue territory unintentionally.

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