Army to Launch ‘Operation Accord’ to Curb the Herdsmen Menace

Army to Launch ‘Operation Accord’ to Curb the Herdsmen Menace

In response to the carnage unleashed by armed Fulani herdsmen across the country, the Defence authorities have announced plans to operationalise the Special Task Force codenamed ‘Operation Accord’ designed to check the rampage.

This has come after months of petitions and pleas by Nigerians as the bloodthirsty herdsmen intensified their campaign of destruction.

Making the announcement, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said the military was only waiting to put finishing touches for the task force to come into effect.

According to Abubakar, the task force, which will have its operational headquarters in one of the states of the North-Central geopolitical zone, will make the incessant herdsmen attacks on communities a thing of the past, Punch writes.

He assured the government and people of Benue State, which has severally been under siege by the herdsmen, that the military was aware of their situation and would soon get on top of it.

“As I am speaking with you, the Operation Accord which is the brainchild of the Defence headquarters would take effect soon. All arrangements, all other logistic requirements, all the training, and what have you, have been completed and what is remaining now is just to ensure that all other things are complete before we move into action. And I believe very soon, the story will change,” he said.

“It is unfortunate and it is condemnable that this kind of thing, they claim, is being carried out by some herdsmen but I believe by the time we put all these things in order, all these would go.

“I am assuring you, I am assuring Nigerians that once our operations come into being, incessant attacks by herdsmen against innocent citizens would be a thing of the past.”

Similarly, the Nigerian Army on Monday launched ‘Operation Motorcycle Battalion’ aimed at the use of motorcycles in its operation against insurgency in Plateau State and environs.

Speaking at the launch, the Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major-General Nicholas Rogers, said they would be deployed to flash points with difficult terrains as they look to rid the state of the menace of armed herdsmen.