Ortom, who made this disclosure to newsmen in the state yesterday, sympathized with the Chief of Army Staff and the Commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion, where the deceased soldier was deployed.
Some youths in Agatu local government area on Saturday allegedly killed a soldier and wounded two others drafted from the 72 Battalion in Makurdi to keep vigilance in the area. The ugly incident occurred at Ole Gadakolo in Agatu
“The action is condemnable, I apologize”, Ortom said. He assured that Benue state government would work with security agencies and traditional rulers to fish out perpetrators of the dastardly act.
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The governor said the period of impunity ended with the amnesty programme in the state and urged all those with illegal weapons to surrender or have them recovered forcefully.
“If Agatu youths had surrendered their weapons during the period of the carrot approach of our amnesty programme, the incident that took place would have been avoided.
“We apologise for what has happened and we also sympathise with the Army over the loss. As a government, we will continue to cooperate with security agencies to ensure that peace is restored to that area.”
Meanwhile the Commander, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Brig. Gen. Clement Apere at a press conference in Makurdi, said the body of the soldier was recovered alongside another wounded soldier during a cordon and search operation conducted by troops to apprehend the militias.
The Brigade Commander displayed arms and ammunition as well as military equipment and uniforms allegedly recovered from the scene. He said the military would not rest until those involved in the act face justice.