The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has relocated to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following the ongoing wave of violent attacks and killings in rural communities by suspected herders and armed militia groups.
The move comes amid growing concern over the escalating violence, which has left dozens of villagers dead, many injured, and countless homes destroyed, rendering several families homeless. Reports of near-daily attacks have sparked outrage and fear across the state.
Military sources confirmed that General Oluyede departed Abuja on Tuesday morning alongside his Principal Staff Officers and other senior army officials to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the state.
As part of his visit, the army chief has ordered the deployment of additional troops to Benue to confront the armed groups responsible for the killings. He is expected to hold strategic meetings with operational and unit commanders to review ongoing military operations and devise new strategies to contain the violence.
General Oluyede is also scheduled to visit affected communities to assess the damage, reassure residents of their safety, and reaffirm the army’s commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens. During his stay, he will visit troop locations, interact with personnel, and personally lead operations in the field to boost morale and coordinate the military response.
Sources told Vanguard that the COAS is deeply disturbed by the reports of mass killings and may initiate key changes in the command structure, including the redeployment of some commanders to reinforce operational effectiveness.
Recent attacks have been described by observers as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Last weekend, gunmen killed at least 43 people in coordinated assaults on several communities in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas. The violence occurred just a week after herdsmen militia ambushed and shot a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo, along the Makurdi-Naka road, and attacked four villages in Gwer West, including the home village of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe. That attack claimed 42 lives, including that of a mobile police officer.
The army chief is expected to remain in Benue for several days before returning to Abuja.